The USS Bronstein (DE-189) was a Cannon-class destroyer escort laid down on August 26, 1943, and launched on November 14, the same year. It was commissioned on December 13, 1943, under Lt Sheldon H. Kinney’s command with the hull number DE-189 and served in the U.S. Navy for 2 years until it was decommissioned on November 5, 1945. During its activity, the ship carried a complement of 216 men on board and had its main missions in Bermuda, Norfolk, Azores, Casablanca, Dakar, and New York. After the decommissioning, the ship was struck on May 14, 1952, and sold to Uruguay, where it was renamed Artigas. For veterans who served aboard Navy ships between World War II and the late 1970s, asbestos exposure was virtually unavoidable. Particularly for those who worked in the confined spaces of the boiler rooms and engine rooms on insulated equipment, exposure to asbestos gaskets, packing, blankets, and insulation was a daily occurrence. Anyone who served onboard the USS Bronstein (DE-189) should monitor their health carefully, and consult a doctor if they experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, persistent cough, wheezing, and chest pain.
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