The USS Pinola (AT–33), a Bagaduce-class fleet tug, was laid down on 3 March 1919 by Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton, Washington. The ship was assigned to the Pacific Fleet and operated on the West Coast near San Francisco until decommissioning at Mare Island on 9 June 1922. The ship was recommissioned on 14 August 1923 and resumed service in ports of the California coast, principally San Diego where she served during the years between the wars. Struck from the Naval Vessel Register 26 February 1946, it was transferred to the Maritime Commission on 21 July 1947 for simultaneous sale to Oakland Manufacturing Company. If you worked on Navy ships during or after WWII, you were almost certainly exposed to asbestos. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they accumulate in the lungs, impairing their capacity to function. Even though the Navy established a directive prohibiting the use of asbestos on ships in 1975, many veterans had already been exposed to the harmful mineral. Veterans who have recently been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness may qualify for VA benefits that include free medical treatment, and additionally to compensation through one or more of the established asbestos trust funds.
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