The USS Libra (AK-53/AKA-12/LKA-12) was an Arcturus-class attack cargo ship launched on November 12, 1941, with the hull number AKA-12. It was commissioned on May 12, 1942, under Comdr. W. B. Fletcher’s command and served in the US Navy for 6 years until it was decommissioned for the first time on April 12, 1948. On August 28, 1950, the ship was recommissioned and served in the US Navy for another 14 years until October 6, 1955. It carried a complement of 406 men on board. During this period, the ship operated in Solomons and Bougainville, Leyte and it participated in World War II and the Korean War. It was struck from the Navy List on January 1, 1977. Asbestos exposure can have severely harmful effects on health, leading to lung cancer, asbestosis, mesothelioma, and many other pulmonary conditions. Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease caused by the retention of asbestos fibers in the lungs after prolonged exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer that affects the cells in the lining inside the chest, abdomen, and space around the heart. Similar to other asbestos-related diseases, mesothelioma manifests many years after initial asbestos exposure. Symptoms of asbestos-related pulmonary illnesses include shortness of breath, chest pain, persistent cough, and reduced lung function.
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