The USS Berrien (APA-62) was a Gilliam-class attack transport laid down on February 23, 1944, and launched on March 20, the same year. It was commissioned on October 8, 1944, under Lt. Comdr. John Murray Gallagher’s command with the hull number APA-62 and served in the US Navy for 2 years until it was decommissioned on May 17, 1946. During its activities, the ship carried a complement of 322 people on board and had its main missions in California, Pearl Harbor, Guam, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Saipan. After the decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Navy List on August 1, 1947, and sold for scrapping in 1966. For the services brought to the country during World War II, the USS Berrien (APA-62) received 2 battle stars.
Asbestos exposure has affected a lot of veterans who served during and after World War II. The use of asbestos in shipbuilding was mandated by the US Navy due to its corrosive and heat resistant properties. If you served on board the USS Berrien (APA-62) and have asbestos-related health problems, you are entitled to VA benefits and compensation.
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