The USS Woodson (DE-359) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort laid down on March 7, 1944, and launched on April 29, the same year. It was commissioned on August 24, 1944, under Lt. Cmdr. J. L. Foley’s command as DE-359 and served in the U.S. Navy for 14 years until it was decommissioned on August 11, 1962. During its activities, the ship carried a complement of 215 people on board and had its main missions in Bermuda, Okinawa, Norfolk, Guantanamo Bay, Shanghai, San Diego, Hollandia, San Pedro, and Leyte. After the decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Navy List on July 1, 1965, and sold for scrapping to the Boston Metals Corporation in Baltimore the following year. Asbestos fibers cannot be seen with the naked eye, but can easily be inhaled; this could result in asbestos fiber buildup in the lungs, which would lead to the development of cancer. Navy veterans heavily exposed to asbestos on ships have a high risk of developing cancer. That risk is significantly raised when cigarette smoking is added to the equation. If you think you were exposed to asbestos while serving aboard the USS Woodson (DE-359), you are eligible to file an asbestos compensation claim, even if you have been or are a current smoker.
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