Evidence
11 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-11).
-
[1]research packet 368-packet.md (6 sources cited) [nhhc_danfs]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-harcourt-ix225-pkt-368-packet-md
-
[2]U.S. Maritime Commission, Instruction Manual for Operating and Maintaining 2500 H.P. Triple Expansion Marine Steam Engines, EC2-S-C1 Cargo Vessels (mirrored excerpt) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Mirrored excerpt, engine-cylinder insulation section
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- The U.S. Maritime Commission instruction manual for the EC2-S-C1 plant (the design of this vessel, MCE hull 687) describes cylinder insulation of magnesia under sheet-iron lagging; insulation products of this era were commonly manufactured with asbestos fiber, and period steam-system gaskets, packing, and insulation felts commonly contained asbestos. Liberty ships were built to emergency USMC specifications during the period when the federal government had reserved asbestos supply for shipbuilding.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1942-1943
- Population
- Construction trades (California Shipbuilding, Los Angeles, 1942-43); merchant engine crew; Navy crew
- Limitations
- Class/design documentation, not a hull record - the manual does not name this vessel and does not itself state 'asbestos' content; asbestos presence aboard this hull is era inference, not ship-proven. Does not establish quantity, present-day presence (hull scrapped 1962), individual exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-harcourt-ix225-01
-
[3]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 EC2-S-C1 Liberty ship was mass-produced, and that wartime demand drove unprecedented asbestos utilization aboard merchant-type hulls.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- 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 or remains aboard this hull, nor quantity, location, condition, exposure, or causation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-harcourt-ix225-02
-
[4]In re Joint Eastern and Southern Districts Asbestos Litigation (Robinson v. United States), 891 F.2d 31 (2d Cir. 1989) [court_record]
- Locator
- Opinion, 891 F.2d 31 (No. 1547, docket 89-6109)
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Second Circuit ruling addressing mesothelioma claims by a mariner aboard War Shipping Administration vessels; the court considered jurisdiction over a personal-injury claim against the United States for asbestos exposure aboard the WWII government merchant fleet - the same operating agency (WSA, acting through general agents such as American-Hawaiian Steamship Co.) that owned and ran this hull as SS John M. Clayton from 1943 until Navy bareboat charter in June 1945. Claims against the government were barred on discretionary-function grounds.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1989 (opinion); wartime exposure period
- Population
- WWII merchant mariners (class context)
- Limitations
- Fleet-level jurisdictional ruling; does not name this hull, does not find asbestos conditions aboard any specific vessel, and establishes only the litigation posture for WWII merchant-fleet claims during the vessel's WSA-operated period (1943-45). Reporter citation confirmed: 891 F.2d 31.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-harcourt-ix225-03
-
[5]NHHC, DANFS entry 'Harcourt II (IX-225)' (published 2015-07-14); NHHC Photo Archives catalog NH 84196; NavSource Service Ship Photo Archive 09/46/46225 (struck 1946-06-05; awards list) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS harcourt-ii.html full entry; https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-84000/NH-84196.html ; NavSource https://navsource.org/archives/09/46/46225.htm
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS (NHHC): the second Harcourt, a standard Liberty ship, was laid down under Maritime Commission contract as SS John M. Clayton by California Shipbuilding Corp., Los Angeles, 1942-11-23; launched 1942-12-27 (sponsor Miss Barbara Bechtel); completed 1943-01-08. Sailing for American-Hawaiian Steamship Co. she carried war cargoes in Atlantic and Pacific until hit by a Japanese bomb during the Mindoro landings; her crew beached her; she was raised and taken to Pearl Harbor where the yard force repaired the hole in her port side. Acquired by the Navy on a bareboat basis, she commissioned as Harcourt (IX-225) 1945-06-22, Lt. Comdr. H. T. Shelly in command; ready 10 July; sailed to Eniwetok with fleet supplies; arrived Tokyo 1945-09-17 with freight for the 3d Fleet; occupation duty to 1946-03-31; arrived San Francisco 1946-04-22; decommissioned 1946-05-17; delivered to WSA at Suisun Bay; remained in the NDRF in damaged condition until sold for scrap to Zidell Exploration Co. in 1962. DANFS characteristics: dp. 3,381; l. 441'6"; b. 56'11"; dr. 27'1"; s. 11 k.; cpl. 71; T. EC2-S-C1. NHHC holds photo NH 84196 (hull photographed circa 1945-46).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1942-1962
- Population
- Navy crew (IX-225 period, cpl. 71); Pearl Harbor yard force (1945 repair)
- Limitations
- Authoritative Navy history for identity, timeline, and service. DANFS dates the bombing '2 January 1945' - the contemporaneous CNO survivor memo gives 1540 GCT 1 January 1945 and the MARAD status card records 1-3-45 (see correction row ev-07). The 1946-06-05 strike date rests on NavSource's transcription of Navy records, not DANFS. The NHHC page's spec line prints 'EO2-S-C1' - a transcription typo for EC2-S-C1 (hazegray's independent DANFS transcription prints it correctly). Contains no asbestos, materials, or insulation statement; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-harcourt-ix225-04
-
[6]U.S. Maritime Administration, ShipHistory database - JOHN M. CLAYTON (1943), Ship History Detail 2619, incl. digitized status cards 2619_4891AF / 2619_4891AB / 3ME_01 and milestone table [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- ShipHistory Detail 2619 - characteristics, milestones, and status-card scans (cards/2619_4891AF.jpg, cards/2619_4891AB.jpg, cards/3ME_01.png)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- MARAD ShipHistory record for John M. Clayton (Detail 2619): type EC2-S-C1, built by California Shipbuilding Corporation; 7,176 gross / 4,380 net tons; 441.50 ft; beam 56.80 ft; bale capacity 499,573 cu ft. Status cards document: US Official No. 242731; MCE hull 687; delivered to WSA 1943-01-08 5:00 PM PWT at Los Angeles (GAA, American-Hawaiian SS Co.); 'Constructive total Loss January 1, 1945'; Navy Dept. bareboat charter (renamed HARCOURT) at Pearl Harbor 1945-06-22 11:00 AM HWT; NDRF Suisun Bay entry 1946-05-17 1:30 PM PST; sale PDX-624 dated 1962-09-25, award 1962-10-18, delivered to purchaser Zidell Explorations, Inc. 1962-11-03 1:00 PM PST, sale price $48,118.98; 517 (units) Bunker C fuel oil aboard at fleet entry; 'Cond. report in file' notation. Milestones table: Acquisition 1946-05-17 ex-HARCOURT; Disposition/Withdrawal 1962-11-03 ex-HARCOURT; Fate: Sold - Scrap.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1943-1962
- Population
- NDRF custodial crews (Suisun Bay 1946-62); Zidell Explorations scrapping workforce (1962)
- Limitations
- Authoritative for government custody milestones, sale chain, and official number; status-card handwriting partially legible (OCR-aided reading; sale price $48,118.98 and fuel-oil figure read from card image). 'Cond. report in file' indicates a condition report exists in MARAD's file but is not digitized. Contains no asbestos, materials, or insulation statement; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-harcourt-ix225-05
-
[7]NARA-declassified (NW 63684) USCG and Office of the Chief of Naval Operations documents hosted as historical attachments, MARAD ShipHistory Detail 2619 (JohnMClayton_2619_001-008.pdf) [other_primary]
- Locator
- MARAD Detail 2619 Documents section - JohnMClayton_2619_001.pdf (USCG casualty form), _004.pdf (Action of Enemy master statement), _005.pdf (CNO Op-16-B-5 memo, 24 Feb 45), _006.pdf (USCG boarding form, 23 Jul 1943)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Declassified primary documents (NARA project NW 63684) attached to the MARAD ShipHistory record: (a) CNO Op-16-B-5 memo of 24 Feb 1945 summarizing survivor statements - ship carried ~401 Army passengers and ~1,300 tons of vehicles from Leyte Gulf (dep. 19 Dec 44, arr. Mangarin Bay 22 Dec); dud torpedo strikes 26 Dec (starboard, No. 2 hold) and 30 Dec (port quarter); bombed at anchor off White Beach at 1540 GCT 1 Jan 45 by a night attacker that strafed first; bomb skipped on water, struck port side of No. 3 hold at the waterline and exploded inside, blasting a ~10-ft hole in the bottom and igniting fuel oil across bridge and deckhouse; casualties 2 merchant crew dead/2 injured and 4 Armed Guard dead/6 injured; beached Blue Beach morning of 2 Jan; refloated 12 Jan, re-beached 13 Jan, surrendered to Army for delivery to Navy. (b) USCG 'Report on U.S. Merchant Vessel War Action Casualty' forms and 'Action of Enemy' master statement (casualty date 1-1-45). (c) USCG boarding/sealing form, Pier 14 East River, New York, 23 Jul 1943 - vessel arrived Ambrose 22 Jul 1943 from Manchester, England; 43 crew incl. 9 officers; radio call KKHJ; armed, degaussed; owner US Maritime Commission, operator American Hawaiian.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1943-07 to 1945-02 (documents); event window 1944-12-19 to 1945-01-13
- Population
- Merchant crew and Armed Guard aboard during attacks (8 dead, 8 wounded total per memo); survivors
- Limitations
- Contemporaneous primary records of the hull's wartime service and casualty - scanned forms with OCR-aided reading; some fields partially legible. Documents battle damage, fire, flooding, and repair events but contain no asbestos or insulation-material statement; the bomb damage and fire are disturbance-relevant to era construction materials only by inference. Supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-harcourt-ix225-06
-
[8]CNO Op-16-B-5 memo 24 Feb 45 (MARAD attachment _005.pdf) vs DANFS 'Harcourt II' entry vs MARAD status card 3ME_01.png [other_primary]
- Locator
- CNO memo first page ('1540 GCT, 1 Jan 45', 'beached... on the morning of 2 January'); DANFS harcourt-ii.html ('2 January 1945'); card 3ME_01 ('Bombed & Beached 1/3/45'; 'Constructive total Loss January 1, 1945')
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Bombing-date discrepancy across official records: the contemporaneous CNO survivor-summary memo (Op-16-B-5, 24 Feb 45) records the bomb hit at 1540 GCT on 1 January 1945 (about 23:40 local time, Mindoro being UTC+8) and the beaching on the morning of 2 January; DANFS dates the hit '2 January 1945'; the MARAD status card records 'Bombed & Beached 1/3/45' and 'Constructive total Loss January 1, 1945'; the USCG casualty forms use 1-1-45. The January 1 (GCT) attack/beaching January 2 sequence in the primary memo is adopted as controlling; the DANFS and status-card dates likely reflect local-time conversion or administrative dating.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1945-01-01 to 1945-01-03
- Limitations
- Resolves a publication-level date conflict in favor of the contemporaneous operational document; the discrepancy is preserved rather than merged because official sources genuinely differ (1, 2, and 3 January all appear). No asbestos content; event dating only.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-harcourt-ix225-07
-
[9]NARA Guide to Federal Records: RG 178 (US Maritime Commission), RG 248 (War Shipping Administration), and NARA merchant-vessel logbook guidance (RG 26 regional distribution); NARA declassification project NW 63684 (located hull-specific series) [other_primary]
- Locator
- archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/178.html and /248.html; archives.gov/research/military/logbooks/merchant-vessels-pl.html; NW 63684 attribution printed on the MARAD-hosted scans
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (not retrieved - require research-room or reproduction order; no spend authorized): NARA RG 178 (Records of the U.S. Maritime Commission) - Construction Division records 1942-46 and Pacific coast construction-director files may hold California Shipbuilding contract/hull 687 construction and outfitting specifications; RG 248 (War Shipping Administration) holds vessel acquisition/operation files and the bareboat charter documentation for the 1945 Navy transfer; RG 26 (U.S. Coast Guard) holds merchant vessel logbooks by port of submission and is the record group from which the declassified NW 63684 casualty attachments derive. Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard 1945 repair records for the hull are a further lead (the 'yard force' repair is documented by DANFS but the work orders are not digitized).
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1942-1962 records
- Limitations
- Record-group mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for hull 687 is unknown until surveyed in person. The NW 63684 casualty series is confirmed to exist for this hull but covers war damage, not materials. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-harcourt-ix225-08
-
[10]Batch-4779 search ledger (this record): NHHC DANFS + photo catalog; MARAD ShipHistory 2619 + cards + NW 63684 attachments; NVR; NavSource; CourtListener ship-name and hull-number queries [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-harcourt-ix225-01 through -12
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, condition report with material content, or docketed case naming USS Harcourt, IX-225, or SS John M. Clayton (MCE hull 687 / Official No. 242731) was found in the public sources searched - DANFS, NHHC photo catalog, MARAD ShipHistory detail plus digitized status cards and all eight attached NARA-declassified documents, NVR (pre-1987 disposals not covered), and CourtListener name searches. The documented events that would be disturbance-relevant if era materials were present - 1945 bomb damage, fire, and Pearl Harbor repair; 1962 scrapping - carry no materials documentation.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 2026-09-29
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1942-43 Liberty hull is era-consistent with asbestos-containing construction materials, and the hull was scrapped rather than preserved, so no survivor-level material inventory was ever likely to be generated. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-harcourt-ix225-09
-
[11]CourtListener API v4 search (type=o): 'USS Harcourt' (0 hits); 'Harcourt' (~2050, all name collisions); 'John M. Clayton' + vessel terms (53, all name collisions) [court_record]
- Locator
- Queries run via cl-auth-search.py helper; see search_ledger rows sl-uss-harcourt-ix225-08 through -11
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- CourtListener opinion-index sweeps (authenticated API v4, 2026-09-29): query '"USS Harcourt"' returned 0 results; query 'Harcourt' returned ~2,050 results - the top-ranked page reviewed in full and every hit is a name collision (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt publishing litigation, Harcourt surnames, City of Harcourt Iowa, unrelated Harcourt parties), none naming the vessel; query '"John M. Clayton" ship OR vessel OR asbestos' returned 53 results - every hit is a name collision (Clayton surnames, John M. Clayton School District desegregation cases, unrelated matters), none naming the ship. No qualifying asbestos or vessel-litigation opinion located for either name.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 2026-09-29
- Limitations
- Search-scope limitation, not an adjudicated finding: exact-phrase 'IX-225' and RECAP docket-index (type=r) queries could not be completed within the fleet-wide CourtListener pacing budget at research close and are carried as 'pending' ledger rows. 'Harcourt' is a high-collision term (publisher, surnames, municipalities); the collision review covered ranked top results, not all 2,050. Absence of a located opinion does not prove no filing ever existed - district-court filings without published opinions are invisible to this index.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-harcourt-ix225-10