Evidence
13 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-13).
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[1]research packet 403-packet.md (3 sources cited) [other_primary]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED (mirror-sourced; no primary-source page located)
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Limitations
- qualifier: VERIFIED (mirror-sourced; no primary-source page located)
- Evidence ID
- uss-lci-l-234-lcil234-pkt-403-packet-md
-
[2]National Archives, Special List #44 - List of Logbooks of US Navy Ships, Stations, and Miscellaneous Units, 1801-1947, ship-number ordering (RG 24, Entry 118; NAID 581208 series) [other_primary]
- Locator
- sl-44-ship-number.pdf, page 22, line item 'LCI(L)-234 12/21/1942 6/30/1945'
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Special List 44 (PDF page 22, verified against downloaded document text) inventories Navy deck logs for 'LCI(L)-234 12/21/1942 - 6/30/1945' - wartime log coverage in Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel (RG 24). These are log-coverage dates, not commissioning or decommissioning dates.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1942-1945 (log coverage)
- Population
- Commissioned crew of record (wartime)
- Limitations
- Deck-log inventory coverage only: establishes that logs exist in RG 24 for this hull across the stated range; does not describe log contents, conditions aboard, or any materials. The 12/21/1942 start precedes NavSource's laid-down date (23 Dec 1942) by two days - likely pre-commissioning administrative coverage; unresolved (see gaps). The uniform 6/30/1945 end date shared by many LCI entries in SL44 is an accession-period artifact, not a ship-specific service endpoint. The logs were not located in NARA's digitized deck-log series.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-234-01
-
[3]NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive, USS LCI(G)-234 ex-USS LCI(L)-234 (1943-1945) - build timeline, campaigns, redesignation, disposition, specifications (history credited to 'USS LCI: Landing Craft Infantry,' Vol. II, Turner Publishing, 1995) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 10/15/150234.htm header block, campaign table, specifications block, photo captions (Ratonneau Island 30 Aug 1944; Saei, Formosa Dec 1945 - Apr 1946)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource timeline for this hull: LCI-1 class; laid down 23 December 1942 at George Lawley and Son, Neponset, MA; launched 16 January 1943; commissioned USS LCI(L)-234, 23 January 1943. Assigned Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater: Sicilian occupation 9-15 July 1943; Salerno landings 9-21 September 1943; West Coast of Italy operations - Anzio-Nettuno advanced landings 21-22 Jan, 30 Jan-4 Feb, 17 Feb, 23 Feb-1 Mar 1944; Invasion of Southern France 15-31 August 1944. Redesignated LCI(G)-234 (Landing Craft Infantry, Gunboat) 15 July 1945. Far East service 24 October - 12 November 1945; China service 13 December 1945 - 24 April 1946 (photographed moored at Saei, Formosa with LCI(G)-195, -220, -233). Decommissioned and struck, dates unknown. Final disposition: destroyed 7 March 1947. Four battle stars. Specifications: displacement 236 t. light / 264 t. landing / 419 t. loaded; length 158'5.5"; beam 23'3"; complement 4 officers, 24 enlisted; troop capacity 6 officers, 182 enlisted; five single 20mm guns; propulsion two sets of four General Motors 6051-series 71 diesel engines (four per shaft), GM main reduction gears, two diesel-drive 30kW 120V DC ship's-service generators, twin variable-pitch propellers, 2,320 shp.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1942-1947
- Population
- George Lawley & Son construction trades (1942-43); LCI(L) crew (4 officers + 24 enlisted) plus embarked troops (up to 6 officers + 182 enlisted); Standard Shipyard conversion trades (Jul 1945); post-war China-service crew
- Limitations
- NavSource is a volunteer secondary compilation citing Turner Publishing's USS LCI Vol. II - milestones track official records but 'decommissioned/struck date unknown' and 'destroyed 7 March 1947' carry no manner, place, or circumstance; the destruction event is not corroborated by any located primary source. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-234-02
-
[4]NARA file unit NAID 83570124, 'LCI(G)-234 - War Diary, 5/1/45 to 6/30/45' (RG 38, WWII War Diaries; microfilm roll A1858, micro serial 140243; 33 images; Fold3 file 300342247) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NAID 83570124, images 0017-0049 (cover letter; daily entries 1 May - 30 June 1945)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- The ship's own war diary (read at image level): on 1 May 1945 LCI(L)-234 was 'steaming as before enroute to San Diego, Calif. from Canal Zone, Panama' as a unit of LCI(L) Flotilla 37, CO C. L. Hasler; daily positions track her up the Mexican Pacific coast; she was at San Diego by mid-May 1945 and at San Pedro, Calif. in late June 1945. Diary letterhead already carries 'USS LCI(G) 234' while entries still style the ship 'USS LCI(L) 234' - the filing reflects the impending gunboat conversion.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1945-05-01 to 1945-06-30
- Population
- Crew under C. L. Hasler (wartime)
- Limitations
- Primary operational record of daily position/status only - no material, insulation, or work-scope content. Documents the Panama transit and West Coast arrival that secondary sources do not state.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-234-03
-
[5]NARA file unit NAID 77504572, 'LCI(L)-234 - War Diary, 7/1/45 To 8/31/45' (RG 38, WWII War Diaries; microfilm roll A1886, micro serial 143033; 16 images) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NAID 77504572, image 0558 (1-14 Jul and 15 Jul 1945 entries), image 0566 (11 Aug 1945 entry)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- The ship's own war diary (read at image level): entries for 1-14 July 1945 state 'MOORED AT STANDARD SHIPYARD, SAN PEDRO, CALIF. UNDERGOING CONVERSION TO LCI(G).'; the 15 July 1945 entry adds 'PURSUANT TO ORDERS OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS DATED 28 JUNE 1945 THIS SHIPS CLASSIFICATION CHANGED FROM LCI(L) TO LCI(G).'; by 11 August 1945 she was 'MOORED AT SAN DIEGO, CALIF., BERTH FIVE, NRB' as USS LCI(G) 234, LCI(G) Flotilla 37. Documents a weeks-long shipyard availability on this hull in July 1945.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1945-07-01 to 1945-08-31
- Population
- Standard Shipyard, San Pedro conversion trades (Jul 1945); crew aboard during availability
- Limitations
- Documents the yard event and reclassification only - no materials list, work package, or insulation content for the conversion is recorded in the diary. 'Standard Shipyard' is quoted verbatim; the yard's corporate identity was not resolved in this research.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-234-04
-
[6]NARA Catalog search 'LCI(L)-234' - ~80 file units, RG 38 WWII War Diaries and RG 24 Muster Rolls, ~79 with digitized images [other_primary]
- Locator
- catalog.archives.gov search 'LCI(L)-234' (80 results, 79 available online, retrieved 2026-09-29); NAIDs as listed
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Digitized ship-specific operational records exist for this hull in the National Archives Catalog: 'LCI (L) 234 - Action Report, 7/10/43' (NAID 134291373 - Sicily); 'USS LCI(L) 234 - Rep of Amphibious Ops During Landings, Cape D'Anzio, Italy, 1/21/44 - 2/2/44' (NAID 78302582 - Anzio); 'USS LCI(L) 234 - Rep of Amphibious Ops in the Invasion of Southern France, 8/9-26/44' (NAID 134371506); monthly war diaries spanning Dec 1943 - Aug 1945 (NAIDs 78469788, 78430968, 78439588, 78448595, 78521894, 139757363, 139757377, 78694832, 139805921, 139881485, 633402188, 633447048, 83570124, 77504572); 'LCI(L) 234 - Muster Rolls' (NAID 120206939, RG 24); and the group commander's diary 'COM LCI(L) GR 111 - War Diary, 2/26/45 to 6/30/45' (NAID 101733055).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1943-1945 (record coverage)
- Limitations
- Archival lead: file units were cataloged, not read page-by-page (two war diaries were sampled at image level - see ev-03, ev-04). These records were not screened for materials content; they are the repository to consult for any work-order, repair, or casualty detail on this hull.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-234-05
-
[7]NHHC photograph 80-G-K-1929, 'Southern France Invasion, August 1944' (National Archives copyright owner) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- NHHC photo page 80-G-K-1929, catalog/caption block
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Official caption: 'DUKW amphibious trucks brings supplies ashore on beach "Alpha red," near Cavalaire, France, on 18 August 1944. USS LCI-234 is in the background.' Ship-specific NHHC photographic documentation placing this hull on an Operation Dragoon beach three days after the 15 August 1944 landings.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1944-08-18
- Population
- Crew and embarked personnel during Operation Dragoon follow-up operations
- Limitations
- Photograph caption documents presence at Cavalaire only - no operational detail, no materials content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-234-06
-
[8]NHHC, 'United States Pacific Fleet Organization, 1 May 1945' (Navy Department Library online reading room) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- NHHC page, 'LCI(L) GROUP 111' / 'LCI(L) DIVISION 221' table section
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- The official Pacific Fleet organization listing dated 1 May 1945 places 'LCI 234' in LCI(L) DIVISION 221 under LCI(L) GROUP 111 alongside LCI 192, 196, 220, 233, and 528 - documenting this hull's transfer from the Mediterranean theater to Pacific Fleet assignment during her San Diego-bound transit month.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1945-05-01
- Limitations
- Administrative listing only - establishes assignment, not physical location or activity on that date (the war diary shows her at sea off Mexico en route San Diego). No materials content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-234-07
-
[9]DANFS, LCI(L)-409 (NHHC) - sister hull built at the same yard [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS LCI(L)-409 entry, construction paragraph and spec block
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS documents that George Lawley & Sons, Neponset, Mass., was a producing LCI yard on wartime cadence: LCI(L)-409 'was laid down on 15 January 1944 at Neponset, Mass., by George Lawley & Sons; launched on 20 January 1944; and commissioned on 25 January 1944... built in a mere ten days.' Corroborates NavSource's builder attribution for LCI(L)-234, laid down at the same yard in December 1942.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1944 (entry period); yard run 1942-44
- Population
- George Lawley & Son trades (LCI production run, 1942-44)
- Limitations
- Sister-hull corroboration of the builder, not documentation for hull 234 itself; DANFS carries no entry for LCI(L)-234 or LCI(G)-234 (both spellings returned live 404 on 2026-09-29). No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-234-08
-
[10]NHHC H-Gram 086-2, 'Iwo Jima: The Battle of the LCI Gunboats' (Director's Corner) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- H-Gram 086-2, armament parenthetical in narrative paragraph
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- NHHC documents what conversion to LCI(G) meant for the class: LCI gunboats 'were typically armed with two 40-mm guns, four 20-mm guns, six .50-caliber machine guns, and 10 Mark 7 4.5-inch rocket launchers' - i.e., the San Pedro yard conversion of this hull added heavy armament (40mm mounts, rocket launchers) to the landing-craft hull.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1944-1945 (LCI(G) conversion program)
- Limitations
- Class-level description of LCI(G) armament; the H-gram concerns 400-series gunboats at Iwo Jima (Feb 1945), not hull 234. Conversion work scope aboard this hull is documented only as 'conversion to LCI(G)' in the war diary - specific equipment installed was not itemized in located sources. No asbestos content.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-234-09
-
[11]Era inference built on: NavSource specifications block (GM diesel plant, no steam) for this hull; DANFS LCI(L)-409 spec block and sister-yards production record; GAO HRD-80-2 (see ev-11) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource 10/15/150234.htm specifications block; DANFS LCI(L)-409; GAO HRD-80-2 product page
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- A steel diesel-powered landing craft built in December 1942 - January 1943 sits inside the Navy's documented asbestos-use era (GAO HRD-80-2: asbestos insulation used extensively aboard Navy ships, alternative materials not substituted until the early 1970s). Era-standard asbestos applications aboard a diesel craft of this type and period were machinery and diesel-exhaust lagging, gaskets, valve packing, electrical insulation, and interior finishes; with no steam plant, the boiler/turbine lagging pathway does not apply. The documented July 1945 gunboat conversion at Standard Shipyard, San Pedro is a shipyard work event of the kind that disturbed and replaced installed materials - content unrecorded.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1942-1947
- Population
- George Lawley & Son construction trades (Dec 1942-Jan 1943); crew and embarked troops (1943-46); Standard Shipyard conversion trades (Jul 1945)
- Limitations
- Class/era inference only - no hull-specific insulation survey, material list, or work package located for LCI(L)-234. Names era-standard applications, not confirmed installed materials. No quantity, no manufacturer attribution, no present-day presence (hull destroyed 1947).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-234-10
-
[12]GAO, Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure, HRD-80-2 (Oct 18, 1979) [gao]
- Locator
- GAO product page HRD-80-2 (full text blocked, HTTP 403)
- Finding type
- gov_survey
- Finding
- GAO documented that the Navy used asbestos insulation extensively aboard ships and did not begin substituting alternative insulation materials until the early 1970s - spanning this hull's construction (1942-43), wartime service, 1945 gunboat conversion, and post-war China service.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-29
- Study period
- 1979
- Population
- Navy shipyard workers; asbestos program review
- Limitations
- Program-level documentation; supports era context only, not any fact specific to this hull. Full text not retrieved (gao.gov blocks automated fetch, HTTP 403, confirmed 2026-09-29) - content via product-page description.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-234-11
-
[13]Batch-5025 search ledger (this record): NARA Special List 44 ship-number PDF; NARA Catalog file units; NHHC photo and fleet-organization pages; DANFS spelling-variant check; NVR check; NavSource; shipbuildinghistory yard table; CourtListener opinion and docket searches; secondary web litigation sweep [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-lci-l-234-01 through sl-uss-lci-l-234-11
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or docketed case naming LCI(L)-234 / LCI(G)-234 / LCI-234 was found in the public sources searched. DANFS has no entry under either designation spelling (live 404, browser-verified). Naval Vessel Register carries no entry (hull stricken in the 1940s, pre-dating NVR scope). CourtListener opinion and docket searches on hull-number variants returned zero hits (2026-09-29). The only 'asbestos aboard' material surfaced in secondary sweeps is law-firm listicle content asserting asbestos presence without primary sourcing - excluded by source policy.
- 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 - era-consistent materials are expected on a 1942-43 Navy craft and the hull's destruction in 1947 forecloses any modern survey pathway. Deck logs (RG 24) and conversion work packages (RG 19/Standard Shipyard) are undigitized leads. Does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lci-l-234-12