USS Goshen (APA-108)

Evidence

11 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-11).

1. [1]research packet f-packet.md (4 sources cited) [nhhc_danfs]

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED — real identity: USS Goshen; hull: APA-108; designation: attack transport; class/type: Bayfield-class, C3-S-A2 — https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/g/goshen.html

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Evidence ID

   uss-goshen-apa108-pkt-f-packet-md

2. [2]Corn, Jacqueline Karnell, and Jennifer Starr, 'Historical perspective on asbestos: Policies and protective measures in World War II shipbuilding,' American Journal of Industrial Medicine 11(3):359-373 (1987) [other_primary]

   Locator

   Abstract and article, AJIM 11(3):359-373

   Finding type

   asbestos_application

   Finding

   Peer-reviewed historical study documents that asbestos was used extensively as a fireproofing and insulating material in U.S. shipbuilding during WWII - the era and program under which this 1944 Maritime Commission C3-S-A2 hull was built (Western Pipe & Steel, San Francisco) - and that wartime demand drove unprecedented asbestos utilization aboard merchant-type hulls. The ship was a geared-turbine steamer (two D-type boilers, 465 psi/765 F; one GE turbine, 8,500 shp), a machinery arrangement whose lagging, gaskets, and packing of the period commonly contained asbestos.

   Verification

   inferred

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1940s era documented; article 1987

   Population

   WWII shipyard workers and ship crews (class context)

   Limitations

   Program/era-level scholarly documentation of asbestos use in WWII shipbuilding generally; does not name this vessel and does not establish that asbestos was aboard this hull, nor quantity, location, condition, individual exposure, or causation. The hull was scrapped in Taiwan in 1973 - no fabric survives to survey.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-goshen-apa108-01

3. [3]NHHC, DANFS, 'Goshen' (APA-108) entry (transcription mirror at hazegray/losthistory.net; live NHHC URL returned 404 on 2026-09-25 and no Wayback capture exists) [nhhc_danfs]

   Locator

   DANFS entry, header spec block and first/final paragraphs

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   DANFS identity and milestones: named for Goshen County, Wyoming; originally Sea Hare, laid down by Western Pipe & Steel Co. under a Maritime Commission contract 31 January 1944; launched 29 June, sponsored by Mrs. James B. Black; acquired by the Navy 13 December 1944 and commissioned the same day, Capt. Carroll T. Bonney in command; decommissioned at Norfolk 20 April 1946; delivered to the War Shipping Administration 2 May 1946; sold in 1947 to American Mail Line Ltd. and renamed Canada Mail; one battle star for World War II service. DANFS header: displacement 8,100; length 492'; beam 69'6"; draft 24'; speed 16 k.; complement 356; armament 2 5", 4 40mm., 18 20mm.; class Bayfield; type C3-S-A2.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1944-1973

   Limitations

   Authoritative for identity and service milestones. Contains no asbestos, materials, or insulation-content statement; supports no asbestos claim. Live NHHC page 404s and no Wayback capture was located - citation is a transcription mirror of the official DANFS text; the underlying official page needs re-locating before production use (standing NHHC link-rot issue, same as Batch-01 finding).

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-goshen-apa108-02

4. [4]NHHC, DANFS, 'Goshen' entry, operational narrative (hazegray mirror); NavSource Amphibious Photo Archive APA-108 page, campaign and occupation-service tables [nhhc_danfs]

   Locator

   DANFS narrative paragraphs 2-6; https://navsource.org/archives/10/03/03108.htm campaign/occupation tables

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   DANFS operational narrative: shakedown off the California coast; departed Long Beach 4 February 1945 for amphibious training in the Hawaiian Islands; embarked over 1,400 troops and officers at Honolulu; brief stops at Ulithi and Eniwetok; arrived off the Hagushi beaches, Okinawa, 17 April 1945 and disembarked troops/unloaded cargo, completing the task five days later; reached Saipan 27 April; loaded mail and passengers at Saipan, Russell, Florida, and New Hebrides islands; arrived San Francisco 3 June. A second Western Pacific cruise in July carried troops and cargo for the last month of the war; the ship was at Saipan when Japan's acceptance of surrender terms was received. Post-war she shuttled occupation troops and cargo between the Philippines and Japan for four months; joined Operation Magic Carpet in December, departing Sasebo 10 December with over 1,400 Marines and arriving San Diego 28 December. Departed the West Coast late January 1946, reached Lynnhaven Roads, Va., 12 February. NavSource corroborates: TransRon Twenty-Two (COMO S.P. Jenkins), TransDiv Sixty-Five (CAPT E.C. Rogers); Asiatic-Pacific campaign 'Okinawa Gunto operation'; Navy Occupation Service Medal periods 5-15 Sep / 29 Sep-17 Nov / 30 Nov-11 Dec 1945 and China Service Medal (extended) 29 Sep-17 Nov 1945.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1944-1946

   Population

   Ship's complement (DANFS header 356; NavSource 41 officers + 437 enlisted) and embarked troops (NavSource accommodations 92 officers + 1,470 enlisted; DANFS notes 1,400+ embarked at Honolulu Feb 1945 and 1,400+ Marines lifted Dec 1945)

   Limitations

   Documents combat employment and ship movements; NavSource's printed campaign dates read '17 to 22 March 1945' while DANFS dates the ship's Hagushi arrival 17 April and task completion five days later - the March figure conflicts with DANFS and is treated as a NavSource month error (see correction row). No asbestos or materials content; supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-goshen-apa108-03

5. [5]U.S. Maritime Administration, ShipHistory database - GOSHEN (APA-108), Ship History Detail 1987 (incl. status-card scans 1987_3698AF, 1987_3698AB, 2T8_01, 2T8_02) [marad_nrc]

   Locator

   ShipHistory Detail 1987 identity fields and status-card scans (card 2T8_01 custody/allocation table; card 2T8_02 final disposition; card AF reconversion annotations; card AB bid-opening note)

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   MARAD ShipHistory database record for GOSHEN (APA-108), Detail 1987: Year Built 1944; Official Number 252476; Shipyard Western Pipe and Steel Company; type C3-S-A2 APA Attack Transport; length 492.0 ft, beam 69.5 ft, 7,900 gross tons; fate 'Sold - Scrap'. The digitized vessel status card documents the full custody chain: delivered by the Maritime Commission to the Navy at San Francisco 13 Dec 1944 2:00 PM PWT from builders; entered James River Reserve Fleet at Lee Hall, Va., 2 May 1946 2:45 PM EDT from Navy (surplus); bids for conversion to be opened 2 Oct 1946; 'out for reconversion 11/22/46 - Todd - Brooklyn - Erie Basin'; withdrawn from the fleet 6 Dec 1946 10:00 AM EST and delivered to Moran Towing & Transportation Co. (GAA) for towing to New York; delivered to Todd Shipyards Corp., Brooklyn Division, for reconversion 9 Dec 1946 5:00 PM EST; allocated to American Mail Line under a General Agency Agreement at New York 14 Jun 1947 12:30 PM EDT; purchase - title passed 16 Jun 1947 11:00 AM PST at Portland, Ore., vessel delivered Hoboken, N.J., 16 Jun 1947 3:00 PM EDT; renamed 'CANADA MAIL'; renamed 'CALIFORNIA MAIL' 12-12-63; sold to Waterman Steamship Co. 11/19/68 and renamed 'LAFAYETTE' 11/19/68; sold to Chi Shun Hua Steel Co., Ltd. for scrapping in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 8/14/73.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1944-1973

   Limitations

   Authoritative for government custody milestones - the status card is the primary document for reserve-fleet entry, reconversion delivery, GAA allocation, title passage, and scrap sale. Handwritten/typed card entries read by inspection; minor characters uncertain. Contains no asbestos, materials, or condition-survey information; supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-goshen-apa108-04

6. [6]NavSource Online Amphibious Photo Archive, USS Goshen (APA-108) page 03108 (spec block, CO list, campaign tables, NHHC photo caption NH 107710); shipscribe.com Bayfield (APA-33) Part 1 class page (construction/disposition tables and class notes) [other_primary]

   Locator

   NavSource page 03108 spec block, CO list, campaign/awards tables; https://shipscribe.com/usnaux/APA/APA34.html construction table row 108 and class notes

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   Secondary compilations of official data (NavSource photo archive; shipscribe.com Bayfield-class data compiled from Navy records): keel laid 31 January 1944 as SS Sea Hare (MC hull 1553, Western Pipe & Steel hull no. 130); launched 29 June 1944; acquired and commissioned 13 December 1944; assigned TransRon Twenty-Two / TransDiv Sixty-Five; specifications - 492' oa x 69'6" e, 8,100 lt / 16,100 fl tons, one GE geared turbine and two Babcock & Wilcox D-type boilers (465 psi/765 F) on one shaft, 8,500 shp, 18.4 kts trial; armament two single 5"/38, four twin 40mm, two twin 20mm, eighteen single 20mm; boats 12 LCVP + 4 LCM(Mk-6) + 3 LCP(L)(Mk-IV); cargo 4,500 DWT / 180,500 cu ft non-refrigerated; commanding officers CAPT Carroll Taber Bonney USN (13 Dec 1944-Aug 1945) and CAPT Robert Andrew Knapp USNR (Aug 1945-20 Apr 1946); call sign NZTP. shipscribe class notes: APA 106-116 were C3s (four Western Pipe + seven Ingalls) completed as APAs by their builders under the MC Military Program following the 9 Nov 1943 JCS request for 130 APAs and the 6 Dec 1943 MC commitment; Auxiliary Vessels Board directed acquisition 10 Jan 1944.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1944-1973

   Limitations

   Reputable secondary compilations reproducing official specifications and photo captions. Boiler manufacturer conflicts across secondary sources (NavSource: Babcock & Wilcox; Wikipedia infobox: Foster Wheeler) - NavSource's figure carried, Wikipedia unverified. Complement figures conflict (DANFS 356; NavSource 41+437; shipscribe class 520). No asbestos content in any source; supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-goshen-apa108-05

7. [7]Cross-source reconciliation: DANFS (hazegray mirror); NavSource page 03108; shipscribe APA-34 disposition table row 108; MARAD ShipHistory Detail 1987 status card [other_primary]

   Locator

   Comparison across the four cited sources; MARAD card 2T8_01 allocation table as primary for custody events

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   Source discrepancies resolved: (a) decommissioning - DANFS and NavSource give 20 April 1946 at Norfolk; shipscribe's disposition table gives 30 Apr 46. DANFS/NavSource date adopted (MARAD card shows Navy-to-WSA delivery 2 May 1946, consistent with either but nearer the 20th). (b) strike date - NavSource gives 25 April 1946; shipscribe's table gives 8 May 46. NavSource adopted. (c) sale date - NavSource's 'sold 14 June 1947' is the General Agency Agreement allocation to American Mail Line (MARAD card: GAA New York 14 Jun 1947 12:30 PM); shipscribe's 'MA Sale 16 Jun 47' is the purchase - title passed 16 Jun 1947 at Portland, Ore. Both dates carried with distinct meanings per the MARAD status card. (d) reconversion tow - NavSource gives towed 22 Nov 1946 from Lee Hall, arrived 23 Nov at Todd Erie Basin; the MARAD card records 'out for reconversion 11/22/46' but withdrawal/delivery to Moran Towing 6 Dec 1946 and delivery to Todd 9 Dec 1946 - card dates adopted for the physical tow. (e) NavSource's campaign table prints 'Okinawa Gunto operation ... 17 to 22 March 1945'; DANFS dates the ship's Hagushi arrival 17 April and completion five days later - participation window treated as 17-22 April 1945, NavSource's 'March' logged as a probable month error.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   correction

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1945-1973

   Limitations

   Resolves publication-level date discrepancies against the primary MARAD status card; where no primary document covered an event (decommissioning, strike), the DANFS/NavSource value was adopted and the shipscribe variance logged. No asbestos content in any of these sources; supports no asbestos claim.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-goshen-apa108-06

8. [8]American Mail Line Ltd. v. United States, 377 F. Supp. 657, 1974 A.M.C. 1536 (W.D. Wash., June 12, 1974), No. 17-72C2, Beeks, J. - CourtListener cluster/opinion 2343460 [court_record]

   Locator

   CourtListener opinion 2343460, full text (html_with_citations); casualty facts at 658-659, holding at 659-660

   Finding type

   litigation_documented

   Finding

   Non-asbestos litigation naming this hull in merchant guise: American Mail Line Ltd. v. United States, 377 F. Supp. 657 (W.D. Wash. 1974). The opinion adjudicates a general-average claim arising from a casualty aboard SS CANADA MAIL (this hull) on the night of 19-20 January 1970 at Pier 46, Seattle: improper ballasting of the no. 5 after starboard deep tank flooded the no. 5 lower hold, wetting stowed woodpulp that expanded and threatened the vessel's structure; the carrier declared general average and sought contribution for government-owned Military Sealift Command/Department of Agriculture cargo aboard. The court held the flooding occurred 'before the beginning of the voyage' under COGSA 46 U.S.C. 1303(1), that the vessel was unseaworthy, and that the carrier failed due diligence - the general-average claim was denied.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   1970-1974

   Limitations

   Classified as OTHER LITIGATION, not qualifying asbestos litigation: an admiralty cargo-damage/general-average case decided on COGSA seaworthiness grounds. It documents the hull's 1970 merchant casualty and contains no asbestos, exposure, or personal-injury content; supports no asbestos claim. The 1970 casualty itself (flooding, structural strain) is a vessel-history data point, not an exposure event.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-goshen-apa108-07

9. [9]CourtListener API v4 search results, 2026-09-25: five queries across all hull identities - full classifications in search_ledger rows sl-uss-goshen-apa108-05 through -09 [court_record]

   Locator

   search_ledger rows sl-uss-goshen-apa108-05 through -09

   Finding type

   litigation_documented

   Finding

   CourtListener opinion search (API v4, authenticated, fleet-paced) located no qualifying asbestos case naming this hull under any identity. 'USS Goshen' returned zero hits; '"Sea Hare" ship' returned zero; 'APA-108' returned four hits, all token collisions (World Properties v. Arlon, D. Conn. 2009; Delaware Bd. of Medical Licensure v. Grossinger, Del. 2020; Multnomah Legal Services Workers Union v. Legal Services Corp., 9th Cir. 1991; Texas v. United States, S.D. Tex. 2018 - docket, form, or citation tokens, no vessel reference); '"Canada Mail" steamship' returned one hit - American Mail Line v. United States (W.D. Wash. 1974), this hull, classified other litigation (see ev-07); '"California Mail" ship' returned four hits, all token collisions (Amazon.com v. N.Y. Dep't of Taxation, N.Y. Sup. 2009; In re Prestwood, Bankr. S.D. Fla. 2005; Northcross v. Joslyn Fruit, D. Ariz. 1977; Winter v. Ludlow, C.C. 1858 - mail-service references, no vessel).

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   negative_finding

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-25

   Study period

   2026-09-25

   Limitations

   Search coverage is limited to CourtListener's opinion index; unindexed dockets, state-court filings, settled claims, and bankruptcy-trust claims are not covered. Absence of a located opinion does not prove no claim was ever filed. 'Goshen' without 'USS' was not searched bare because it is a high-collision geographic/personal token (cities, counties, Goshen College) - the qualified 'USS Goshen' form returned zero hits.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-goshen-apa108-08

10. [10]Batch-2176 search ledger (this record): rows sl-uss-goshen-apa108-01 through sl-uss-goshen-apa108-12 [other_primary]

    Locator

    search_ledger rows (this record)

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or docketed asbestos case naming the Goshen/Sea Hare/Canada Mail/California Mail/Lafayette hull was found in the public sources searched (DANFS, MARAD ShipHistory + status card, NavSource, shipscribe, NARA catalog, Board of Veterans' Appeals public search via web index, CourtListener - see search_ledger). Commercial asbestos-marketing sites list the ship by name with boilerplate exposure language but offer no ship-specific documentation and were excluded per batch rules.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    negative_finding

    Documentation level

    ship_specific

    Accessed

    2026-09-25

    Study period

    2026-09-25

    Limitations

    Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1944 C3-S-A2 hull completed under wartime MC construction is era-consistent with asbestos-containing materials, and the hull's 1973 scrapping in Taiwan means no fabric survives to survey. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-goshen-apa108-09

11. [11]NARA record-group mapping: RG 24 deck logs, RG 38 war diaries (standard custody for WWII hulls); NHHC photo NH 107710 via NavSource caption; MARAD status-card bid note [other_primary]

    Locator

    NavSource page 03108 NH 107710 caption; MARAD card 1987_3698AB bid annotation; NARA catalog query returned SPA shell only

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    Archival leads (located but content not retrieved this session): WWII deck logs for APA-108 are in NARA RG 24 (Bureau of Naval Personnel deck logs); wartime war diaries would be in NARA RG 38 (CNO records); NHHC photo NH 107710 documents the ship on shakedown 15 January 1945 (photographed from a ZP-31 blimp, per the NavSource caption); the NARA Catalog web API returned only the SPA shell to scripted queries in this session, so no ship-specific catalog IDs were verified. The MARAD status card references a 2 Oct 1946 bid opening for the reconversion - Todd's reconversion contract records, if extant, would be the closest thing to a work-scope document for the hull.

    Verification

    unverified

    Role

    archival_lead

    Documentation level

    context_only

    Accessed

    2026-09-25

    Study period

    1944-1947 records

    Limitations

    Record-location mapping only - no NARA page images were retrieved and no specifications were surveyed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for this hull is unknown. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-goshen-apa108-10