Evidence
9 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-9).
-
[1]research packet ee-packet.md (2 sources cited) [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED. Sources — real identity: USS Clemson (DD-186); class name ship of the Clemson-class destroyers (first hull of the class). Namesake: Midshipman Henry A. Clemson (lost with USS Pickering, 1800).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-clemson-dd186-pkt-ee-packet-md
-
[2]NHHC, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, 'Clemson (Destroyer No. 186)' [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- Service narrative, paragraphs 2-6
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NHHC records reserve and Navy Yard periods at Norfolk, Charleston, Boston, and Philadelphia; conversion to aircraft-tender roles as AVP-17 and AVD-4 in 1939-1940; reconversion at Charleston in 1943; 1944 conversion there to high-speed transport APD-31; and return to DD-186 designation in July 1945. It records Atlantic antisubmarine and Pacific Underwater Demolition Team 6 support service, a Presidential Unit Citation shared with the Bogue group, and nine World War II battle stars.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Limitations
- Yard presence and conversions are documented events; NHHC does not describe materials removed or installed during those periods and does not establish asbestos work or exposure.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-clemson-dd186-02
-
[3]NHHC, United States Naval Aviation 1910-1995, Part 4, Chapter 26, Destroyer Seaplane Tenders (AVD) table [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- Chapter 26, Aviation Ships, p. 355, Clemson row
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NHHC's official aviation-vessel table lists Clemson's DD-186, AVP-17, AVD-4, APD-31, and return-to-DD-186 designations, and gives 24 October 1945 as the date stricken.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Limitations
- Official designation and disposition chronology only; no asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-clemson-dd186-03
-
[4]National Archives, Ship Plan Index, CLEMSON DD-186 entries [other_primary]
- Locator
- CLEMSON DD-186 entries, RG 19, Alphabetical Ship Drawings and Microfilm
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA's Ship Plan Index lists CLEMSON, DD-186, in Record Group 19 under Alphabetical Ship Drawings (catalog ID 53483931) and Microfilm (catalog ID 175668704). These collections are leads for examining ship-specific plans, including any available insulation and piping drawings.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Limitations
- The index establishes holdings, not the contents of individual drawings. No Clemson drawing or material schedule was retrieved or reviewed; the index is not evidence of asbestos aboard.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-clemson-dd186-04
-
[5]National Archives, 'Researching Asbestos aboard US Naval Vessel up through 1961' [other_primary]
- Locator
- Beginning Research; General Information Books; Cartographic Branch; Other Records and their usefulness
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- NARA's research guide describes potential asbestos-relevant Navy record groups for the 1941-1961 period, including RG 19 destroyer General Information Books and S39 insulation/lagging and S48 piping drawings. It states that deck logs and muster rolls do not directly show asbestos aboard ships.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Limitations
- This is a research guide, not a Clemson material record. It establishes where to search and why service records are insufficient; it does not show that a Clemson GIB exists or that this ship contained asbestos.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-clemson-dd186-05
-
[6]U.S. GAO, HRD-80-2, Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure (1979) [gao]
- Locator
- Highlights, paragraphs 1-2
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- The 1979 GAO review documents asbestos insulation policy and exposure concerns across Navy shipbuilding and repair, with fieldwork at Long Beach and Norfolk Naval Shipyards. This is program-level context only.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Limitations
- GAO studied policy decades after Clemson's 1945 decommissioning and did not examine this hull. It cannot establish this ship's materials, exposures, or repair work.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-clemson-dd186-06
-
[7]Negative result from NHHC DANFS, NARA Ship Plan Index, NARA asbestos research guide, and GAO HRD-80-2 review; see search_ledger [other_primary]
- Locator
- Search ledger sl-01 through sl-05
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- The official sources and catalog entries reviewed for this record did not yield a ship-specific asbestos survey, product schedule, abatement record, or material finding for Clemson. Asbestos presence aboard DD-186 remains unknown.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Limitations
- This is a bounded search result, not proof that asbestos was absent. Underlying NARA plans, GIBs, conversion work packages, and sale or scrapping files were not obtained.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-clemson-dd186-07
-
[8]CourtListener authenticated API v4 search response via fleet helper, exact-name opinion query; subsequent helper pacing messages [court_record]
- Locator
- Search count 0; search ledger sl-06 through sl-08
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- An authenticated CourtListener API v4 opinion search for the exact phrase 'USS Clemson' returned HTTP 200 with count 0. Hull-number opinion and exact-name docket searches were blocked by the fleet pacing guard; the hull-number docket search was not run. No qualifying asbestos litigation finding can be made from this incomplete sweep.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Limitations
- The zero count applies only to the exact-name opinion query, not to dockets, hull-number variants, or all litigation. Pacing prevented the other results; this does not prove that no asbestos complaint or opinion exists.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-clemson-dd186-08
-
[9]NHHC, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, 'Clemson (Destroyer No. 186)' [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- Specifications block and service narrative, opening and final paragraphs
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NHHC identifies Clemson as a Clemson-class destroyer built by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., launched 5 September 1918, commissioned 29 December 1919, decommissioned 30 June 1922, recommissioned 12 July 1940, and finally decommissioned 12 October 1945. The entry gives a design complement of 101 and reports sale on 21 November 1946.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-26
- Limitations
- Documents identity and service history, not asbestos composition, installed products, occupational exposure, or the wartime crew count. The 101 figure is the DANFS specification, not an actual wartime muster.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-clemson-dd186-01