Evidence
9 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-9).
-
[1]research packet hj-packet.md (4 sources cited) [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED — real identity: USS John Hancock (DD-981) — named for Founding Father John Hancock; sixth U.S. Navy ship of the name, second ship bearing exactly "USS John Hancock"
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-john-hancock-dd981-pkt-hj-packet-md
-
[2]Naval History and Heritage Command, memorial biography of Rear Adm. Ronald C. Wilgenbusch [other_primary]
- Locator
- Career biography paragraph beginning 'In November 1978'
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NHHC biography states that Wilgenbusch reported to Ingalls Shipyard at Pascagoula in January 1979 and assumed command of USS John Hancock (DD-981) upon its commissioning on 10 March 1979. Establishes the hull's commissioning date and a commissioning-period Ingalls association.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1979
- Population
- Commanding officer and ship, 1979
- Limitations
- This biography is not a construction or asbestos record. It does not establish laid-down or launch dates, builder of record, shipyard work scope, asbestos-containing materials, or the ship's later disposition.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-john-hancock-dd981-01
-
[3]NHHC DANFS, Spruance I (DD-963), service narrative references destroyer John Hancock (DD-981) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- Service narrative passages listing John Hancock (DD-981)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The official DANFS history for Spruance identifies John Hancock (DD-981) among the destroyers operating with the ship. This confirms the hull's identity in the Spruance destroyer context.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1980-2000
- Population
- U.S. Navy destroyer operations
- Limitations
- The cited DANFS entry is for USS Spruance, not a dedicated John Hancock history. It does not establish construction particulars, complement, propulsion specifications, asbestos content, or abatement history.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-john-hancock-dd981-02
-
[4]NHHC/National Archives catalog, USN 1174373, USS John Hancock (DD-981) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Catalog title, description, accession USN, catalog USN 1174373
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- The NHHC catalog identifies a National Archives photograph as USS John Hancock (DD-981), circa 1979, and describes a sailor applying the ship's name before commissioning.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- circa 1979
- Population
- Ship and crew, circa 1979
- Limitations
- Catalog description and image establish vessel identity and commissioning-era context only; they do not document construction dates, material composition, asbestos, or later status.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-john-hancock-dd981-03
-
[5]NHHC Navy Department Library ZC Files, J: John Hancock (DD-981), 1977-1980 [other_primary]
- Locator
- J entries, John Hancock (DD-981), 1977-1980
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NHHC's library finding aid lists a John Hancock (DD-981) file for 1977-1980 containing christening, commissioning, and welcome-aboard brochures. These are archival leads for construction and commissioning history; the underlying items were not retrieved for this research.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1977-1980
- Population
- Ship records, 1977-1980
- Limitations
- Finding-aid metadata only. It does not establish what the underlying brochures say and contains no asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-john-hancock-dd981-04
-
[6]NHHC Archives Branch, Collection 94 finding aid, entry 'USS John Hancock (DD 981): Decommissioning and Changes, 1977-2000' [other_primary]
- Locator
- Collection 94, box 322, entry 66
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NHHC's finding aid indexes a record series titled 'USS John Hancock (DD 981): Decommissioning and Changes, 1977-2000.' The underlying file is an archival lead for the ship's later history and was not retrieved.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1977-2000
- Population
- Command and decommissioning records, 1977-2000
- Limitations
- The finding aid provides only a series title and date span; it does not verify a decommissioning date, disposition, or asbestos-related work.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-john-hancock-dd981-05
-
[7]NHHC DANFS, John Hancock (steam tug, launched 1850), reviewed to disambiguate the DD-981 name [other_primary]
- Locator
- DANFS title and opening ship specifications
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NHHC's DANFS page titled John Hancock concerns a steam tug launched in 1850, not destroyer DD-981. It is a name collision and was excluded as evidence about this hull.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1850-1865
- Population
- Different U.S. Navy vessel named John Hancock
- Limitations
- The source documents a different vessel and contributes no finding about DD-981 or asbestos.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-john-hancock-dd981-06
-
[8]Bounded review of NHHC biography, DANFS cross-reference, NHHC/NARA photo catalog, and NHHC archival finding aids listed in this record [other_primary]
- Locator
- Review of cited source contents and finding-aid descriptions
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- The official sources reviewed for this record did not document asbestos-containing materials, an asbestos survey, or abatement aboard USS John Hancock (DD-981). Ship-specific asbestos documentation remains unknown.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1976-2000 ship service; sources accessed 2026-09-28
- Population
- USS John Hancock (DD-981)
- Limitations
- This negative finding is limited to the named sources reviewed; no exhaustive Navy/NARA file search or hull survey was completed. It is not evidence that asbestos was absent aboard the vessel.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-john-hancock-dd981-07
-
[9]CourtListener API v4 authenticated exact-name docket search result: Webb v. Baldor Electric Company, No. 1:22-cv-00145 (S.D. Miss.), filed 2022-06-10, terminated 2025-02-07; suit nature indexed as P.I.: Asbestos [court_record]
- Locator
- CourtListener docket 63376371 (https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63376371/webb-v-baldor-electric-company/); RECAP document 1-1, 147-page complaint, available in search result; exact-name query; later hull query returned fleet-limiter exit code 2
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- The authenticated exact-name docket query returned Webb v. Baldor Electric Company, an asbestos personal-injury case with an attached 147-page state-court complaint indexed in RECAP. The docket-index search match is an unresolved possible vessel reference; the complaint has not yet been inspected to establish whether it alleges exposure aboard USS John Hancock (DD-981), mentions another vessel, or contains a non-vessel name collision.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- CourtListener search attempted 2026-09-28
- Population
- Potential litigation references to USS John Hancock (DD-981)
- Limitations
- Pleading-stage docket only; no allegation is treated as a finding. Exact-name docket hit identified but not classifiable pending complaint review. The subsequent authenticated DD-981 docket query was refused by the fleet pacing limiter; exact-name opinions and hull-number opinions remain pending. No exposure, asbestos aboard, causation, product identity, or legal eligibility is established.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-john-hancock-dd981-08