The USS Daniel A. Joy (DE-585) was a Rudderow-class destroyer escort launched on January 15, 1944. It was commissioned on April 28, the same year under Lt. F. E. Lawton’s command as DE-585 and served in the U.S. Navy for 21 years until it was decommissioned on May 1, 1965. During its activities, the ship carried a complement of 186 people on board and had its main missions in Bizerte, Manus, Hingham, Boston, New Guinea, San Pedro, Leyte, Lingayen, Okinawa, and Bermuda. After decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Navy List and sold for scrapping to the North American Smelting Corporation in Wilmington the following year. For the services brought to the country during World War II, the USS Daniel A. Joy received 2 battle stars. Asbestos was used extensively throughout all military branches, however, Navy veterans had the highest risk of exposure during their service. Because of its affordability, tensile strength, and the property of being thermally inert, the U.S. Navy began using asbestos-containing materials in 1930 to help repair, maintain, and build ships. During some point in their military career, whether being a mechanic, radioman, welder, water tender, or pipefitter, these men were exposed to asbestos.
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