The USS Bolster (ARS-38) was a Bolster-class rescue and salvage ship laid down and launched in 1944, and commissioned in 1945. The ship joined the Pacific Fleet for her end-of-World War II service, departed for Yokosuka, Japan, and carried out repair and salvage operations in Japanese waters. In 1946, after leaving for Subic Bay, Luzon, the rescue ship continued her service in the Philippines until 1947. During the Korean War, the vessel alternated operations between Pearl Harbor and Alaska, carrying out salvage and towing assignments until 1950. She then towed two barges to Sasebo, Japan, remaining in the Far East until 1951. The next year, the ship completed six deployments to the Far East. During her Vietnam service, the rescue ship operated in Vietnamese waters from 1966 to 1972, earning 11 campaign stars and the Combat Action Ribbon. The USS Bolster was decommissioned and struck from the Register in 1994. For much of the 20th Century, asbestos was widely used in the U.S. Navy, endangering the health of naval personnel and generating health effects long after their service years. Veterans diagnosed with asbestos-related conditions may qualify for trust fund and VA disability compensation if they can prove exposure and service connection.
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