Evidence
6 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-6).
-
[1]MARAD Vessel History Database and original vessel status cards [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- Final two transaction rows; compare Detail/4006 milestones and card 4006_7387AF.jpg.
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The vessel was transferred to the Maritime Administration and purchased for scrap by Hugo Neu Steel Products at Charleston Naval Base on 29 August 1960. The MARAD database disposition fields dated 6 May 1959 are not adopted as the scrap-sale date: the associated preliminary card says awaiting orders, while the completed transaction card records the 1960 transfer and purchase.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-24
- Limitations
- Documents sale for scrap, not the date or location of completed dismantling. The buyer spelling Neu on the transaction card controls over New in the pasted history. No hazardous-material disposal evidence.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-usns-private-john-f-thorson-04
-
[2]Codex batch 9566 source review and search ledger [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger sl-01 through sl-10; research/batch-9566/README.md
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No ship-specific asbestos material, survey, abatement, or exposure documentation was located in the inspected MARAD entries, eight card images (one duplicated status card), two-page Becket Bend document, naval-history clipping, and limited indexed government-source searches. Ship-specific asbestos status remains unknown; CourtListener coverage is incomplete because the authenticated helper was blocked by shared pacing.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-24
- Limitations
- A bounded research result, not proof of absence of asbestos or litigation. No authenticated search result was returned; exact hull and remaining name/docket searches were not submitted after the pacing stand-down. Does not establish or defeat an exposure claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-usns-private-john-f-thorson-05
-
[3]NARA Guide to Federal Records, RG 357 [other_primary]
- Locator
- 357.1 Related Records and 357.2.1 General Records
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA's MARAD guide identifies related U.S. Maritime Commission records (RG 178) and War Shipping Administration records (RG 248), alongside MARAD records (RG 357). These are repository-level leads for further vessel construction, custody, and disposal research.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-24
- Limitations
- Guide inspected; no hull-specific file or asbestos document located or ordered. The guide does not establish that a particular Thorson materials record survives.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-usns-private-john-f-thorson-06
-
[4]MARAD Vessel History Database and original vessel status cards [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- Vessel characteristics; name history; status card QE_01.png header and renamed-vessel stamp. Cross-reference card ffc245cc-ac14-41c5-b512-bfbc508f68ae.jpg.
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Becket Bend and Private John F. Thorson (AK-247) identify the same cargo vessel, Maritime Commission hull 2486, MARAD type C1-M-AV1, built in 1945 by Southeastern Shipbuilding Corporation at Savannah, Georgia; the Becket Bend database entry gives U.S. Official Number 247487.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-24
- Limitations
- Historical record only; does not establish asbestos materials, exposure, or individual causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-usns-private-john-f-thorson-01
-
[5]MARAD Vessel History Database and original vessel status cards [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- Printed Private John F. Thorson history pasted onto reverse of MARAD card; construction paragraph and final two paragraphs.
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The naval-history clipping retained in MARAD status card 4006_7387BB records laying down on 8 January 1945, launching on 26 February 1945, delivery to Moore-McCormack on 6 July 1945, renaming on 31 October 1947, Navy transfer and placement in service as T-AK-247 on 1 March 1950, MSTS operations from Gulf ports until 1954, transfer to the Charleston Group of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet and removal from service on 2 August 1954, and striking on 1 October 1958.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-24
- Limitations
- Official MARAD-hosted naval-history clipping; edition and page are not visible. Its separate 1954 Army-transfer statement is contradicted by transaction cards and excluded (ev-03). The clipping uses decommissioned for the service-ending event; this record does not infer commissioned USS status. No asbestos information.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-usns-private-john-f-thorson-02
-
[6]MARAD Vessel History Database and original vessel status cards [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- Handwritten Army title and Navy title notes and dated operator rows; corroborated by QE_01.png and BECKET BEND.pdf page 1.
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The original transaction records show Moore-McCormack delivery under general agency on 6 July 1945, War Department bareboat delivery on 23 July 1946 at New Orleans, and Army title transfer on 30 August 1946; Navy title transferred from the Army on 1 March 1950. These records supersede the clipping's internally inconsistent 23 July 1954 Army-title statement and do not substantiate its custody transfer two days later.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-24
- Limitations
- Bareboat custody and title are distinct transactions. Handwritten card explicitly labels 30 August 1946 title transfer; PDF confirms 23 July 1946 bareboat delivery. No 25 July transfer is established by the inspected cards; no asbestos conclusion.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-usns-private-john-f-thorson-03
