The USS Smartt (DE-257) was an Evarts-class destroyer escort laid down on January 10, 1943, and launched on February 22, the same year. It was commissioned on June 18, 1943, under Lt. Cmdr. W. B. Pendleton’s command as DE-257 and served in the U.S. Navy for 2 years until it was decommissioned on October 5, 1945. During its activities, the ship carried a complement of 198 people on board and had its main missions in Boston, Casco Bay, Bizerte, Algiers, Norfolk, New York, Bermuda, and Gibraltar. After the decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Navy List on October 24, the same year, and sold for scrapping in 1946. For the services brought to the country during World War II, the USS Smartt received one battle star. During repair jobs performed regularly on Navy ships, the asbestos fibers may create dust composed of small particles that can be released into the air. After inhalation, these fibers become trapped in the lungs or digestive tract - making them nearly impossible for the body to break down. Nearly all service members with a history of asbestos exposure are at a potentially life-threatening risk for serious health complications.
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