The USS Shelton (DE-407) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort laid down on November 1, 1943, and launched on December 18, the same year. It was commissioned on April 4, 1944, under Lt. Cmdr. Lewis B. Salomon’s command as DE-407 and served in the U.S. Navy for a few months until it was sunk on October 3, 1944. During its activities, the ship carried a complement of 215 people on board and had its main missions in Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, Bermuda, Morotai, Seeadler Harbor, and San Diego. After the sinking, the ship was struck from the Navy List on November 27, 1944. Out of all branches of the U.S. military, the Navy used the highest amount of asbestos for its resistance to corrosion, heat, and water, and to prevent the risk of fire. Sailors, other warship personnel, and even members of the other branches of the military stayed for long times on these ships, putting them at risk of developing asbestos-related diseases due to a high rate of asbestos exposure. If you or a loved one served in the U.S. Navy and experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, persistent cough, and tightness in your chest, you may be entitled to VA benefits in addition to compensation from asbestos trust funds.
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