The USS Talita (AKS-8) was an Acubens-class general stores issue ship laid down on April 23, 1943, and launched on May 12, the same year. It was commissioned on March 4, 1944, and served in the U.S. Navy for 2 years until it was decommissioned on April 9, 1946. During its activity, the ship carried a complement of 214 men on board and had its main missions in New Hebrides, the Solomons, Guadalcanal, Espiritu Santo, Majuro, Ulithi, Manus, and Leyte. After the decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Navy List on July 17, 1947. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was found early on to exhibit strong heat- and fire-resistant properties. Unfortunately, after being used in numerous industries, such as the shipbuilding industry, it was discovered that the inhalation of asbestos fibers could lead to the development of cancer mesothelioma and other devastating lung conditions.