The USS Yellowstone (AD-41) was the lead ship of the Yellowstone class destroyer tenders, the third U.S. Navy ship with this name, and the first naval command in a combat zone to have women serving on it. The destroyer tender was laid down in 1977, launched in 1979, and commissioned in 1980. After post-commissioning adjustments, the ship deployed for the first time in a NATO exercise and completed over 100 repair jobs under simulated wartime conditions. During the Gulf War, the vessel provided the fleet with critical repair and rearming capability. During her seven months on station, the USS Yellowstone alone completed over 10,000 repair jobs on 30 U.S. and allied ships, earning her a Naval Unit Commendation for her service. After only 16 years of duty, the vessel was decommissioned in 1996 and placed in standby status at the Naval Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility. Later, she was placed in "reduced operating status" (ROS). After this period, she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1999, transferred to the control of the Maritime Administration in 2001, and sold for dismantlement in 2014. If you think you were exposed to asbestos while serving, it’s in your best interest to get tested regularly, increasing the chances of an early diagnosis while asbestos illnesses are still in their early stages.
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