Evidence
11 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-11).
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[1]research packet gv-packet.md (8 sources cited) [nhhc_danfs]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-herbert-j-thomas-dd833-pkt-gv-packet-md
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[2]DANFS, Herbert J. Thomas (DD-833), updated NHHC entry (dated 30 November 2005; page published 15 July 2015) - live page returned 404 to automated fetch 2026-09-28; verbatim capture via Wayback 2025-12-09 [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS entry 'Herbert J. Thomas (DD-833)', specifications block + service narrative (WWII occupation through 1970 decommissioning, transfer, Taiwan service)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS record for this hull: namesake Sgt. Herbert J. Thomas, USMCR, Medal of Honor (posthumous), killed 7 November 1943 at the Koromokina River, Bougainville; specifications block - displacement 2,425, length 390'6", beam 40'10", draft 18'6", speed 35 knots, complement 435, armament 6 5-inch/14 40mm/16 20mm/6 dcp, class Gearing. Launched 25 March 1945 by Bath Iron Works Corp., sponsored by Miss Audrey Irene Thomas; commissioned 29 May 1945, Comdr. Robert T. S. Keith. Occupation duty Japan/Korea 1945-46; Newport, R.I., homeport 1947; three Mediterranean deployments; Korea 1950-53 (TF 77 Yellow Sea, Pohang gunfire support, 4 September 1950 radar-picket intercept of a Soviet twin-engine bomber, 11 May 1952 Wonsan Harbor duel - one hit, no casualties); Long Beach homeport 1952; Mare Island overhaul and armament conversion late 1953; Taiwan Patrol and fast-carrier deployments 1954-1959; Sitka 49-state flag raising August 1959; entered Mare Island Naval Shipyard for a 12.5-month modernization overhaul 9 July (year printed 1963 - a typo; see gaps and ev-04), FRAM I conversion with entirely new NBC-protective superstructure and ASROC, returned to full commission 31 July, FRAM I completed 30 August; Vietnam deployments 1966-67 (Yankee Station screening Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA-42, Formosa Strait patrol, naval gunfire support), 1968 (II/III Corps shore bombardment post-Tet, Taiwan patrol), 1969 (Tonkin Gulf PIRAZ duty); NROTC midshipmen training ship summer 1970; failed final service inspection late August 1970; decommissioned at San Diego 4 December 1970; struck from the Navy list 1 February 1974; transferred to the Republic of Taiwan through the Security Assistance Program 1 June 1974; served as Han Yang (D 915) until retired 16 August 1999. Six battle stars Korea; three battle stars Vietnam.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1944-1999
- Population
- Bath Iron Works construction trades 1944-45; ship's company 1945-1970 (design complement 435); Mare Island Naval Shipyard workers during 1953-54 overhaul and 1964-65 FRAM I conversion; Long Beach overhaul workers 1968
- Limitations
- DANFS documents service history and specifications, not materials or asbestos content. The entry's printed '9 July 1963' FRAM entry date conflicts with the ship's own 1963 command report (deployed to WestPac May-November 1963) and NavSource photo documentation of FRAM strip-down at Mare Island 17 August 1964 - the entry date is read as 1964 and the conflict is carried in gaps. Transfer date reads 1 June 1974 (SAP) while NavSource records 6 May 1974 - carried in gaps. Live NHHC page returned HTTP 404 to automated fetch 2026-09-28; content verified via Wayback capture 2025-12-09. DANFS says nothing about laid-down date or the 1949/1964 reclassifications.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-herbert-j-thomas-dd833-01
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[3]Hale v. Air & Liquid Systems Corp., No. 4:22-cv-00853-TSH (N.D. Cal.), Notice of Removal from San Francisco Superior Court No. CGC-21-276981, ECF No. 1-1 (Exhibit 1, filed 2022-02-09) - enclosing the state-court complaint for personal injuries (Keller Fishback & Jackson LLP, dated 11 November 2021) [court_record]
- Locator
- ECF No. 1-1 (Exhibit 1), complaint Exhibit 'A' job-site list at PDF page 49 of 54 (complaint p. 42); nature-of-suit 'Asbestos Litigation - Personal Injury' in service-of-process transmittal
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Asbestos personal-injury pleading names this hull: the complaint's Exhibit A recites that plaintiff Dennis Hale 'was diagnosed with an asbestos-caused disease, including but not limited to lung cancer,' was 'exposed to asbestos of varied types and sources during his employment' (enumerated product categories include boilers, gaskets, insulating cement, pipecovering/block insulation, packing, pumps, valves, and steam generating equipment), and alleges exposure 'at job sites including' the U.S. Navy period 09/29/1960-05/31/1983 as a Machinist Mate at 'Hunter's Point Naval Shipyard; Mare Island Naval Shipyard; San Diego Ship Repair; U.S.S. Yosemite(AD-19); USS Courtney(DE-1021); USS Epping Forest(MCS-7); USS Herbert J. Thomas(DD-833); USS Epperson(DD-719); USS Nitro(AE-23); USS Saratoga(CV-60); USS Davis(DD 937); USS Sierra(AD-180)'. Hull attribution to DD-833 is explicit - hull number stated. Removed 9 February 2022 by defendant Crosby Valve, Inc.; case terminated 7 March 2022.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1960-1983 (alleged exposure window); 2021-2022 (litigation)
- Population
- Dennis Hale (USN machinist mate 1960-1983); alleged asbestos-caused lung disease
- Limitations
- Pleading-stage allegation only: a complaint's job-site list is an allegation, not an adjudicated finding of exposure, causation, or asbestos content aboard this hull. The allegation does not specify dates aboard DD-833 within the 1960-1983 service window or which products aboard were asbestos-containing. Termination one month after removal is consistent with remand to state court; subsequent merits history not located.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-herbert-j-thomas-dd833-02
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[4]In re Asbestos Products Liability Litigation (No. VI), MDL No. 875 (J.P.M.L./E.D. Pa.), Notice of Potential Tag-Along ECF No. 7714-2 (filed 2011-08-17) - complaint in Sweatt, N.D. Cal. No. 3:11-cv-03933-JCS (plaintiff Charles Sweatt; Brayton Purcell LLP) [court_record]
- Locator
- MDL-875 docket, ECF No. 7714-2 / 7803-1 (Complaint, CAN 3:11-cv-03933-JCS; 16 pp. scanned)
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Asbestos personal-injury pleading names this hull: the complaint in Sweatt v. General Electric Co. et al., N.D. Cal. No. 3:11-cv-03933-JCS (filed 10 August 2011; Brayton Purcell LLP; nature of suit '368 P.I. : Asbestos'), attached to MDL-875 as a tag-along notice exhibit, includes an Exhibit A 'Location of Exposure' table listing for employer U.S. Navy: 'HERBERT J. THOMAS (DD-833) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA; WesPac Cruise, including Vietnam', job title Gunner's Mate, dates 'approx. 1967 - 2/3/1970'. Exhibit A states plaintiff Charles Sweatt 'was diagnosed with mesothelioma on or about July 2011.' The complaint's defendant list includes Bath Iron Works Corporation, this hull's builder. Hull attribution to DD-833 is explicit - hull number stated.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- alleged aboard service ~1967 - 3 Feb 1970; complaint filed 10 Aug 2011
- Population
- Charles Sweatt (plaintiff); asbestos exposure allegations
- Limitations
- Pleading-stage allegation only: a complaint's exposure-site table is an allegation, not an adjudicated finding of exposure, causation, or asbestos content aboard this hull. The 'at Mare Island Naval Shipyard' situs wording is the plaintiff's - the ship's Mare Island FRAM availability was 1964-65, before the alleged ~1967-1970 aboard window; the complaint does not further apportion shipboard vs. yard exposure. Merits disposition not located (case docket reviewed through the MDL tag-along record only). Text verified by OCR of the scanned RECAP PDF (Internet Archive mirror) - OCR quality caveat noted.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-herbert-j-thomas-dd833-03
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[5]NHHC Archives, USS Herbert J. Thomas (DDR-833) Ship's History for calendar year 1963 (command operation report, DDR833/GK:gt Ser: 11 of 2 January 1964, submitted under OPNAVINST 5750.7) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NHHC Vietnam-era command operation reports index, H section; PDF pp. 1-3 (cover letter + ship's history narrative)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- The ship's official 1963 command operation report (NHHC collection): DDR-833 completed a yard overhaul period and sea trials 25 February 1963; conducted underway training (AAW, ASW, gunnery) in the San Diego/Long Beach areas; deployed to WestPac 18 May 1963 with COMDESFLOT 7 via Pearl Harbor and Midway; reported to Seventh Fleet 4 June 1963; operated from South Korea to South Vietnam with attack carriers including Constellation and Hancock, visiting Yokosuka, Sasebo, Manila, Subic Bay, Hong Kong, and Buckner Bay (Okinawa); participated in a joint Navy-Air Force anti-air warfare exercise 9 November 1963; detached from Seventh Fleet and proceeded to Long Beach 26 November 1963 for leave and upkeep, completing a cruise of over 47,000 miles.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1963
- Population
- DDR-833 ship's company, 1963
- Limitations
- Documents operations and yard periods only - not asbestos content, materials, exposure, or medical outcomes. OCR of the scanned report is imperfect; figures were read with care but character-level errors are possible. Significance for this record: independently establishes the ship was deployed to WestPac through November 1963, confirming that the DANFS '9 July 1963' FRAM entry date is a typographical error for 1964.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-herbert-j-thomas-dd833-04
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[6]NARA Catalog, digitized U.S. Navy deck logs for Herbert J. Thomas (DD-833), Record Group 24 - 728 monthly file units spanning January 1962 through December 1970, scanned under the VA Blue Water Navy Deck Log Project (e.g., NARA ID 175307453, 'Herbert J. Thomas (DD-833) - September 1970') [other_primary]
- Locator
- NARA Catalog search 'Herbert J. Thomas (DD-833)' - 728 fileUnit results, digital objects under rg-024/VA_Batch deck-log series
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NARA holds digitized deck logs for this hull: 728 monthly file units January 1962-December 1970 in RG 24 (National Archives at College Park; digital objects online via the VA Blue Water Navy deck-log digitization). Deck logs are the ship's contemporaneous operational record and a primary source for in-port periods (including the Mare Island FRAM availability and the Long Beach 1968 overhaul) and for personnel assignments; they are a lead for any ship-specific maintenance or material references.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1962-1970 (log coverage)
- Population
- Ship's company and embarked personnel, 1962-1970
- Limitations
- Archival lead only - deck-log text was not reviewed page-by-page; no asbestos content, work order, or material reference was identified from the logs at this record level. Coverage located is 1962-1970 (digitized set); earlier paper-era logs (1945-1961) exist in RG 24 but were not confirmed digitized in this sweep.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-herbert-j-thomas-dd833-05
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[7]Goodrich v. Air & Liquid Systems Corp. / Goodrich v. John Crane, Inc., No. 4:17-cv-00009 (E.D. Va.), Omnibus Opinion and Order, ECF No. 171 (Sept. 28, 2018), 2018 WL 4677773 [court_record]
- Locator
- Omnibus opinion, ECF No. 171 (per Gearing-class profile verification, OCR pp. 12, 19, 31)
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Class-level litigation recital bearing on the Gearing design: the Goodrich omnibus opinion recites 'an engineering drawing for the insulation and lagging of forced draft blower turbines for the class of destroyers (DD 692, USS Allen M. Sumner class), within which the USS Harlan Dickson fell, specifies the use of amosite felts and asbestos cloths' and quotes an expert report estimating 'a partial tally of the weight of the asbestos-containing thermal insulation and lagging products in the fire ... and engine rooms of a ship belonging to the USS Allen M. Sumner (DD 692) and USS Gearing (DD 710) classes of destroyers is 30.3 tons.' DD-833 is a Gearing-class member sharing the Sumner/Gearing machinery suite.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1940s design era; opinion filed 2018-09-28
- Population
- Destroyer fire/engine-room crews of the Sumner and Gearing classes
- Limitations
- Class-level material only: the recited drawing is for the Sumner/Gearing destroyer classes generally, and the tonnage is an expert's partial tally for fire/engine rooms - neither is a hull-specific finding for DD-833, and neither is an adjudicated classwide quantity (the opinion treated related exposure conclusions as speculative). Do not read as establishing asbestos products aboard this hull.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-herbert-j-thomas-dd833-06
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[8]DANFS specifications block (Gearing class; 35 kt; complement 435) + NavSource DD-833 'As Built' machinery data (60,000 shp, General Electric geared turbines, two screws, 36.8 knots) + Gearing-class profile propulsion data (4 Babcock & Wilcox superheated boilers) [other_primary]
- Locator
- DANFS specifications block; NavSource DD-833 'As Built' block; NHHC DANFS yard-event narrative
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Era/class inference: a Gearing-class destroyer built 1944-45 at Bath Iron Works (Bath, Maine) with a high-pressure superheated steam plant (4 B&W boilers; GE geared turbines; 60,000 shp) would have carried period-standard asbestos boiler and turbine insulation, steam-line lagging, gaskets and packing, fireproofing, and deck coverings. Documented yard events - the 1953-54 Mare Island overhaul/armament conversion and the 1964-65 FRAM I conversion at Mare Island (entirely new superstructure) - are the kind of insulation-disturbance availabilities associated with exposure peaks, but no hull-specific asbestos scope is documented for either.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1944-1970
- Population
- Bath Iron Works trades 1944-45; Mare Island yard workers 1953-54 and 1964-65; Long Beach yard workers 1968; crew 1945-1970
- Limitations
- Class/era and builder inference only - not a ship-specific finding of asbestos aboard DD-833. No BuShips material schedule, hull survey, or yard work package for this hull was located; the only ship-specific asbestos records for this hull are the Hale and Sweatt pleading-stage allegations (ev-02, ev-03).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-herbert-j-thomas-dd833-07
-
[9]NavSource Naval History, Destroyer Photo Index DD-833/DDR-833 USS Herbert J. Thomas - 'Operational and Building Data' block and captioned photo archive (volunteer-compiled transcription of official ship data) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource DD-833 page, 'Operational and Building Data' block + photo captions (0583353, FRAM feature page)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource record for this hull corroborates official milestones and adds detail: laid down 30 October 1944 by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine; launched 25 March 1945; commissioned 29 May 1945; reclassified DDR-833 18 March 1949, reverted to DD-833 1 April 1964; 'Completed FRAM upgrade August 1965'; decommissioned 4 December 1970; stricken 1 February 1974; 'To Taiwan May 6 1974, renamed Han Yang'; Taiwan decommissioned 16 August 1999, 'to be sunk as artificial reef.' Photo captions independently document: overhaul at Mare Island 14 September 1953-3 March 1954 (photo 13 January 1954); FRAM strip-down at Mare Island 17 August 1964 ('most of her old superstructure had been stripped off'); CNO visit to the yard 27-29 July 1965; and the ship's STOPS (Shipboard Toxicological Operational Protective System) sealed-envelope NBC-defense configuration with pressurized spaces and lookout 'bubbles' installed during the Mare Island FRAM.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1944-1999
- Limitations
- Volunteer-compiled secondary transcription - corroborating compilation, not a primary record. It supplies the laid-down date and reclassification dates absent from DANFS, corroborates the 1964-65 FRAM window against DANFS's '1963' typo, and conflicts with DANFS on the transfer date (6 May vs 1 June 1974 - carried in gaps). Crew figure (336) differs from the DANFS spec block (435) - DANFS carried. The Project 112/SHAD claim in one contributor caption is unverified and not relied on. Live navsource.org fetch failed 2026-09-28; content verified via Wayback capture 2024-05-27.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-herbert-j-thomas-dd833-08
-
[10]Batch-3800 search ledger (this record): NHHC DANFS live + Wayback; HyperWar/ibiblio DANFS transcription; hazegray; NavSource; NVR SHIPSDETAIL; NARA Catalog (deck logs, RG 24); NHHC Vietnam-era command operation reports; CourtListener API v4 (paced) [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-herbert-j-thomas-dd833-01 through sl-uss-herbert-j-thomas-dd833-14
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No ship-specific asbestos survey, abatement contract, ACM inventory, materials report, or disposal hazmat record for DD-833 was located in the public sources searched; the only ship-specific asbestos documentation is the Hale and Sweatt pleading-stage allegations (ev-02, ev-03). NVR does not list pre-1987 disposals. No VA/DoD exposure study naming this hull was located; no NHHC or NARA asbestos-specific record for this hull was located.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 2026-09-28
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - the 1944-45 steam-plant build and documented yard availabilities are era-consistent with asbestos use. Does not establish that asbestos is or was present or absent, and does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-herbert-j-thomas-dd833-09
-
[11]CourtListener API v4 authenticated searches (type=o opinions and type=r dockets), 2026-09-28, via fleet-paced helper cl-auth-search.py [court_record]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-herbert-j-thomas-dd833-06 through sl-uss-herbert-j-thomas-dd833-14
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Sweep results: opinion index - '"USS Herbert J. Thomas"' 0 hits; '"DD-833"' 0 hits; '"DDR-833"' 0 hits; '"Herbert J. Thomas"' 116 hits, page-1 review all name collisions (Herbert J. Thomas Memorial Hospital, W. Va. - named for the same Medal of Honor recipient - and unrelated matters); '"Herbert J. Thomas" asbestos' 3 hits, all name collisions (two hospital-related; one Hopeman Bros., Inc. v. Continental Casualty Co., 307 F. Supp. 3d 433 (E.D. Va. 2018) insurance-coverage opinion whose 'Herbert J. Thomas' match is a citation to Herbert J. Thomas Memorial Hospital, 159 F.3d 192 (4th Cir. 1998) - full-text checked, not the ship). Docket index - '"USS Herbert J. Thomas"' 1 hit: Hale v. Air & Liquid Systems Corp., N.D. Cal. 4:22-cv-00853 (QUALIFYING - pleading-stage asbestos allegation naming this hull, ev-02); '"DD-833"' 8 hits: Hale (qualifying), MDL-875 tag-along attachment containing the Sweatt complaint (N.D. Cal. 3:11-cv-03933 - QUALIFYING pleading-stage allegation explicitly naming this hull, ev-03), and 6 unrelated dockets where 'DD-833' matched incidental text (Seijo v. Casa Salsa; U.S. v. Siegelman; N.Y. Times v. Microsoft; SIPC v. Madoff; In re Seroquel PLL; U.S. WeChat Users Alliance v. Trump).
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 2026-09-28
- Limitations
- Sweep coverage incomplete at write time: '"Herbert J. Thomas"' and '"DDR-833"' docket-type queries and the '"DD 833" asbestos' opinion query were deferred by fleet-wide pacing (shared ~114/hr budget spent; helper exit 2, no ban) - carried as blocked/pending in search_ledger row sl-13. The 116-hit bare-name opinion set was screened by page-1 review plus the name+asbestos filter; residual unscreened opinion hits could remain. A no-result or partial sweep does not prove absence of unindexed, sealed, non-digitized, or differently named litigation.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-herbert-j-thomas-dd833-10