The keel of the USS S-38 (SS-143) was laid down by the Union Iron Works in 1919, having been sponsored by Mrs. Grace M. Collins. The submarine won two remarkable victories, namely Hayo Maru in 1941 and Meiyo Maru in 1942, also winning 3 battle stars. We strongly advise everyone who served on this vessel to pay close attention to their health, as asbestos might have been present on it as wall insulation. The USS S-38 was decommissioned in 1945 and subsequently sunk as a target by bombing. Before the dangers of asbestos were widely known, the mineral was considered to be superior to other forms of insulation and used in Navy ships since the mid-1930s. There were dozens of shipyards throughout the United States where asbestos was used as part of the shipbuilding process and put into approximately 300 materials such as paneling, pipe covering, adhesives, and more, that were constantly being handled by Navy personnel of all ranks.
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