Evidence
11 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-11).
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[1]research packet 570-packet.md (9 sources cited) [nhhc_danfs]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-lsm-380-lsm380-pkt-570-packet-md
-
[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 1944-45 LSM-1-class hull was mass-produced - and that wartime demand drove unprecedented asbestos utilization in both naval and merchant construction.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- 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 or the LSM class 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-lsm-380-01
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[3]NavSource LSM-380 specifications block (Turner Publishing extract) for the diesel plant and construction dates; Corn & Starr AJIM 1987 for era shipbuilding-asbestos policy; general-period shipbuilding materials practice [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource LSM-380 page, Specifications block; Corn & Starr AJIM 11(3)
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- This hull was built December 1944-January 1945 by Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, at the wartime peak of asbestos use in U.S. ship construction. Era-consistent asbestos applications aboard a diesel-powered amphibious auxiliary of this period include machinery and exhaust-system insulation, gaskets and flange packing, electrical cable insulation, interior fireproofing and deck compounds, and brake/clutch linings on winches and windlass. The LSM-1 plant is diesel direct-drive (no boilers or steam distribution), so the asbestos footprint is lighter than a steam vessel's but still era-typical for hull, machinery, and habitability materials.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1944-1948
- Population
- Construction trades (Brown Shipbuilding, Houston, 1944-45); Navy crew 1945-48; salvage crews 1948-2015; restoration workers/volunteers
- Limitations
- Era/design inference, not a hull record - no ship-specific source states asbestos content aboard LSM-380/Salvage Chief. Does not establish quantity, location, present-day presence, individual exposure, or causation. Diesel propulsion means no boiler/steam-line insulation load.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lsm-380-02
-
[4]NavSource Naval History, USS LSM-380 page (Amphibious Photo Archive), history extract from LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces Vol. II (Turner Publishing, 1997, ISBN 1-56311-389-9); includes US Navy photo NH 83272 attribution [other_primary]
- Locator
- USS LSM-380 page - history extract, awards block, specifications, commanding-officer table
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource Amphibious Photo Archive extract (from 'LSM-LSMR Amphibious Forces,' Vol. II, Turner Publishing, 1997) records: LSM-1-class; laid down 23 December 1944 at Brown Ship Building Co., Houston TX; launched 13 January 1945; commissioned USS LSM-380 on 10 February 1945, LT John K. Ullrich USNR in command; Asiatic-Pacific assignment in LSM Flotilla Fourteen (LCDR W. R. McCaleb), LSM Group Forty (LCDR O. J. Heggem USNR), LSM Division Eighty; Occupation/China service 18 July-24 November 1946; decommissioned 25 February 1948; struck from the Naval Register 'date unknown'; sold 27 February 1948 to Fred Devine, Portland OR, for conversion to salvage vessel Salvage Chief. Awards: China Service Medal (extended), American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal (Asia clasp). Commanding-officer list (Ullrich, Bevan, Frink, Zavodny, Reynolds) and full specifications block are on the page.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1944-1948
- Limitations
- Published-source extract (Turner Publishing via NavSource), not an official NHHC record - no DANFS entry exists for this hull, so NavSource is the controlling compiled source. Decommission date (25 Feb 1948) conflicts with Sea History/Wikipedia (19 Feb) - see correction row. No asbestos, materials, or survey information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lsm-380-03
-
[5]Mockford, Jim, 'Salute to M/V Salvage Chief (ex-LSM 380),' Sea History No. 162, Spring 2018 (National Maritime Historical Society) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Sea History 162 article PDF, full text and photo captions
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- National Maritime Historical Society profile (Sea History 162, Spring 2018): LSM-380 built at Brown Shipbuilding, Houston, one of 558 LSMs built 1944-45; maiden voyage carried pontoon bridges from San Francisco; staged at Minami-Tori-shima (Marcus Island) for the planned invasion of Japan; after surrender she went to China carrying Marines managing repatriation of surrendered Japanese troops and civilians; departed China December 1946 via Guam and Pearl Harbor (January 1947) to Suisun Bay reserve fleet; decommissioned 19 February 1948; purchased by Portland salvor Fred Devine, converted (bow doors welded shut, stern partially cut away, six 100-ton below-deck winches with Eells anchors, helicopter deck) and renamed M/V Salvage Chief. Salvage log highlights: Pine Bluff Victory (1949); Yorkmar refloat (Dec 1952, then-largest ever); Nozima Maru tow loss (1956, Chief Engineer Dick Floyd died aboard); Captyannis (1967); Sansinena wreck removal (Dec 1976); primary salvage support and escort of Exxon Valdez Prince William Sound to San Diego (arrived 30 July 1989); mobilized then released at New Carissa (1999); Capt. Reino Mattila's 50-year tenure and 200-plus successful missions. Vessel owned by Salvage Chief LLC and positioned for training/disaster response.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1944-2018
- Limitations
- Journalistic-historical profile drawing partly on Salvage Chief Foundation materials and participant accounts (captions credited to crew); mission details are consistent across sources but uncorroborated by official records. Decommission date 19 Feb 1948 conflicts with NavSource's 25 Feb - carried unresolved. No asbestos, abatement, or materials statement anywhere in the article; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lsm-380-04
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[6]Northwest Public Broadcasting / NW News Network, 'This Old Ship Could Help Clear The Way For Relief After A Cascadia Megaquake' (Tom Banse, 2019-04-02) [reputable_press]
- Locator
- NWPB article text and photo captions
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NW Public Broadcasting (NW News Network, Tom Banse, 2019-04-02): Salvage Chief moored at Tongue Point South, Astoria; Fred Devine Diving & Salvage had mothballed her; Astoria businessman Floyd Holcom bought her in 2015; Salvage Chief Foundation (chairman Don Floyd) seeking $1.9M in Oregon state funding (SB 678) for drydock, hull repairs, engine upgrades, paint, and satellite communications toward USCG certification and a Cascadia earthquake/tsunami response role; ship used for Tongue Point Job Corps seamanship training and U.S. Army boarding exercises.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 2015-2019
- Population
- Job Corps trainees; foundation personnel; prospective drydock/repair workers
- Limitations
- Contemporary regional reporting; repair scope described at planning level only - no asbestos, abatement, or hazmat content. Supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lsm-380-05
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[7]The Astorian, 'Caretaking the graveyard of the Pacific: The Salvage Chief' (2026-09-13) [reputable_press]
- Locator
- Article text, 'World War II and Fred Devine' through 'Today' sections
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- The Astorian (2026-09-13): Salvage Chief - described as 'the last known surviving landing ship medium of World War II in the world' - was towed from a decade-long berth at Tongue Point to Astoria's Pier 39 on 25 August 2026 after the vessel's military contract ended; she now sits in sight of the Riverwalk awaiting readiness work for the Cascadia-response mission, with restoration needs estimated by owner Floyd Holcom at roughly $20M and Oregon legislature funding efforts unsuccessful to date. Retells the wartime build/service and salvage career consistent with NavSource and Sea History.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1944-2026
- Limitations
- Contemporary regional reporting, current as of Sept 2026; 'last surviving LSM' is the paper's framing consistent with Wikipedia - not verified against a surviving-hull registry. No asbestos, abatement, or hazmat content; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lsm-380-06
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[8]Cross-source reconciliation: NavSource LSM-380 page; Sea History 162 (Mockford); The Maritime Executive 'Famed West Coast Salvage Vessel May Sail Again' (2019-02-05); Wikipedia USS LSM-380 (accessed text) [reputable_press]
- Locator
- Maritime Executive article (LST-380 label; New Carissa and Exxon Valdez phrasing); NavSource history extract; Sea History 162
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Source discrepancies resolved or flagged: (a) Decommissioning - Sea History and Wikipedia give 19 February 1948; NavSource/Turner extract and its commanding-officer list give 25 February 1948; no DANFS entry exists to arbitrate - carried as unresolved with both dates stated. (b) Stricken - Wikipedia gives 12 March 1948 (unsourced there); NavSource lists the strike date as unknown - carried as unverified. (c) The Maritime Executive (2019) mislabels the ship 'LST-380' (a landing ship tank, a different hull type) and describes Salvage Chief as having removed the Exxon Valdez from Bligh Reef and the wreck of the New Carissa - both overstated: Sea History documents Salvage Chief as primary support/escort after Exxon Valdez refloat and as released from the New Carissa job by unified command. Maritime Executive's correction-relevant text was not relied on for those points.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1948-2019
- Limitations
- Resolves publication-level discrepancies in secondary framings; the decommission-date conflict cannot be resolved without a primary Navy record (no DANFS). No asbestos content in any of these sources.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lsm-380-07
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[9]CourtListener public search (opinions and RECAP dockets); Gooch v. United States docket page 59234996 [court_record]
- Locator
- courtlistener.com/?q="LSM-380"&type=o (no results); ?q="LSM 380"&type=o (no results); ?q="LSM-380"&type=r (1 RECAP docket, non-qualifying); ?q="Salvage Chief" asbestos&type=o (no results)
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- CourtListener ship-name/hull-number sweep (2026-10-02): opinion index searches for "LSM-380" and "LSM 380" returned no results; RECAP docket search for "LSM-380" returned one docket, Gooch v. United States (S.D. Fla., 9:21-cv-80288, filed 2021-02-08, terminated 2022-02-02), which is a federal tax-refund case (Nature of Suit 870 Taxes; cause 28:7402) - a name collision, not asbestos or maritime litigation naming this vessel. Opinion search for "Salvage Chief" + asbestos returned no results. No qualifying asbestos litigation located.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 2026-10-02
- Limitations
- Searched via the public CourtListener web interface - no API key or connector was available in this session, so anonymous API querying was not used. Web search covers indexed opinion text and docket metadata; unindexed RECAP filing bodies and non-federal courts are outside coverage. Absence of hits does not prove no suit was ever filed; only that no qualifying record is indexed.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lsm-380-08
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[10]Batch-6196 search ledger (this record): seahistory.org SH162; readythechief.com; nwpb.org; dailyastorian.com; navsource.net; web search; NPS designation check [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-lsm-380-01 through sl-uss-lsm-380-12
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, or hazmat disclosure for LSM-380/Salvage Chief appears in the Sea History NMHS profile, the foundation site (readythechief.com), NWPB 2019, The Astorian 2026, or NavSource; a targeted web search for 'Salvage Chief' + asbestos returned only law-firm marketing noise; no NRHP/NHL nomination exists to consult (no listing located).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 2026-10-02
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1945 hull with wartime fabric is era-consistent with retained asbestos-containing materials, and the vessel remains afloat and unrestored. Does not establish presence or absence; does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lsm-380-09
-
[11]NARA Navy deck-log guidance and digitized-logs index (archives.gov/research/military/logbooks/navy-online); NHHC photo attribution per NavSource; Turner Publishing LSM-LSMR Vol. II as underlying published source [other_primary]
- Locator
- NARA digitized deck-log index (LSM-380 absent - listed hulls are post-WWII named/renamed craft); NavSource photo credit line for NH 83272
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (not retrieved - no in-person survey or reproduction order authorized): (a) NARA RG 24 deck logs - LSM-380's 1945-1948 logs are not in the National Archives' digitized deck-log set (digitization coverage begins later; WWII-era logs must be requested from Archives II, College Park); (b) NHHC photograph NH 83272 (LSM-380 at anchor, San Francisco Bay) is in the Naval History and Heritage Command photo collection; (c) builder's records for Brown Shipbuilding wartime hulls are the likeliest locus for outfitting/materials detail - not surveyed.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-10-02
- Study period
- 1944-1948 records
- Limitations
- Record-location mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for this hull is unknown until surveyed. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lsm-380-10