Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard was officially established on the Hawaiian Islands by the U.S. Navy in 1908 as coaling and repair station. Between 1908 and 1919, the shipyard continuously developed. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the shipyard played a vital role in repairing heavily damaged U.S. ships. The shipyard raised the completely sunk vessels, repaired them, and returned them to the fight. Through this, it earned its motto 'We keep them fit to fight' in the months following the attacks on Pearl Harbor. Asbestos was used in ship repairs for several decades and was most likely present on many ships homeported at Pearl Harbor. The presence of asbestos has put thousands at risk of developing an asbestos-related lung disease throughout the years.