The USS Montrose was a Haskell-class attack transport laid down on June 14, 1944, and launched on September 13, the same year. It was commissioned for the first time on November 2, 1944, under Comdr. Hallock G. Davis’ command, with the hull number APA-212 and it served in the US Navy for 21 years until it was decommissioned for the last time on November 2, 1969. During its activity, the ship carried a complement of 602 people on board and had its main missions in California, Okinawa, Indochina, Saigon, Kerama Retto, Manila, Hawaii, and Leyte. After the decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Navy List on the same day and sold for scrapping in 1970. For the services brought to the country during the Korean War, the USS Montrose received 3 battle stars and another 6 battle stars for the Vietnam activity. Up until 1980, the majority of the U.S. ships have contained huge amounts of asbestos, because of their thermal and electrical resistance, and non-inflammability. Veterans afflicted with asbestos-related diseases are eligible for compensation from one or more of the several trust funds created for victims of asbestos exposure, and also through the Department of Veterans Affairs.