The USS Kenneth M. Willett (DE-354) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort laid down on January 10, 1944, and launched on March 7, the same year. It was commissioned on July 19, 1944, under Lt. Cmdr. J. M. Stuart’s command as DE-354 and served in the U.S. Navy for 10 years until it was decommissioned on February 26, 1959. During its activities, the ship carried a complement of 215 people on board and had its main missions in Okinawa, Norfolk, Panama Canal, Hollandia, Bermuda, Manila, Ulithi, Tokyo, Ryukyus, San Juan, New Orleans, and Leyte. Exposure to asbestos can cause several health conditions, especially lung diseases, after a long latent period. If you are a Navy veteran that served on the USS Kenneth M. Willett you should call your doctor and request to be seen as soon as possible. Typically, doctors will initially diagnose asbestos-related pulmonary conditions using imaging equipment. A chest X-ray is the first type of imaging that may be used. X-rays are most likely to detect the buildup of fluid in the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs, known as a pleural effusion - a symptom of mesothelioma, lung cancer, or other asbestos-associated diseases. It can cause breathlessness, chest pain, and dry cough.
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