USS Reasoner (DE-1063)

Evidence

12 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-12).

1. [1]research packet hx-packet.md (4 sources cited) [other_primary]

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Evidence ID

   uss-reasoner-de1063-pkt-hx-packet-md

2. [2]Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. v. Director, Office of Workers Compensation Programs, U.S. Department of Labor, 914 F.2d 1317 (9th Cir. 1990) (No. 89-70309; decided Sept. 18, 1990, as amended Nov. 8, 1990) [court_record]

   Locator

   914 F.2d 1317, Part III (paras. 14-20), esp. para. 15 (removal description, completed 25 Nov. 1980) and paras. 17-18 (residual gasket asbestos; air monitoring)

   Finding type

   abatement_record

   Finding

   A published federal appellate opinion reciting adjudicated findings documents a whole-ship asbestos removal aboard this hull: 'The Reasoner, on which Picinich spent the vast majority of his time while working for Todd in 1981, underwent a thorough asbestos removal procedure that was completed by November 25, 1980, prior to Picinich's tenure. Unlike more customary partial removal procedures, this one was designed to completely eliminate asbestos from the ship.' The opinion describes the contractor's method - wetting down areas, drop cloths over bilges, removal with knives and tin-snips to avoid dispersal, vacuuming, then thorough washing and repeated bilge rinses - and records that 'new non-asbestos insulation was installed' aboard afterward. The record also establishes that 'certain gaskets still contained some asbestos after the removal process' and that some pipefitters used grinders and wire wheels on gasket flanges, releasing asbestos fibers. A marine chemist tested air aboard after the removal and found fiber concentrations below the Navy regulatory limit used for return-to-work decisions (corrected figure: 25 times below the approved level, not 250 as the ALJ stated).

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-28

   Study period

   1980 (removal completed 25 Nov.); 1981 (post-removal work aboard); opinion 1990

   Population

   Todd Pacific Shipyards pipefitters and yard workers aboard Reasoner, 1980-81 availability; ship's crew alongside

   Limitations

   Proves asbestos-containing material was present aboard this hull and that a complete-ship removal was performed, completed by 25 November 1980, during a Todd Pacific yard period; documents residual asbestos in 'certain gaskets' post-removal and replacement with non-asbestos insulation. Does not name the removal contractor, the Todd facility, ACM quantity or waste volume, locations of residual gaskets, or whether any ACM remained at the 1993 Turkish transfer or 2005 sinking. Findings recited in an appellate opinion reviewing an ALJ record, not an abatement contract or survey.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-reasoner-de1063-01

3. [3]Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. v. Director, Office of Workers Compensation Programs, U.S. Department of Labor, 914 F.2d 1317 (9th Cir. 1990) [court_record]

   Locator

   914 F.2d 1317, paras. 2-4 (facts), 9-13 (last-covered-employer analysis), 14-21 (substantial-evidence review of the Reasoner exposure finding)

   Finding type

   litigation_documented

   Finding

   Adjudicated LHWCA death-benefits claim naming this hull: pipefitter Picinich 'worked aboard the U.S.S. Reasoner' during February-November 1981 while employed by Todd, spending 'the vast majority of his time' aboard her, principally in machinery spaces and engine and fire rooms. He died in 1982 of an asbestos-related disease (lung cancer; asbestosis confirmed at autopsy - cause of death undisputed by either employer). The ALJ found his asbestos exposure aboard Reasoner 'was minimal' and placed liability on Lockheed Shipbuilding (his exposure there 1957-81 was 'undisputed' and significant); the Benefits Review Board reassigned liability to Todd; the Ninth Circuit reversed the Board and reinstated the ALJ's decision, holding that 'minimal exposure' aboard Reasoner was insufficient to fix liability on Todd under the last-covered-employer rule.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-28

   Study period

   1981 (exposure period adjudicated); 1982 (death); 1989-1990 (BRB and appellate decisions)

   Population

   Picinich (Todd pipefitter/supervising foreman aboard Reasoner Feb-Nov 1981); Todd yard workers aboard during the availability

   Limitations

   Merits-adjudicated benefits proceeding (ALJ to BRB to 9th Cir.), not a tort pleading - but the adjudicated finding is favorable to the ship's side on exposure level: Picinich's 1981 exposure aboard was found 'minimal' and insufficient to cause his disease; the worker's established significant exposure was at the builder/repair yards, not aboard. The opinion names no other exposed worker and does not quantify shipboard asbestos. Establishes the hull's facts (removal, residual gaskets, air monitoring) as recited adjudicated record; does not establish exposure level for any other person.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-reasoner-de1063-02

4. [4]DANFS, Reasoner (DE-1063) - NHHC entry dated 23 September 2005 (verbatim from archived NHHC page; live page returns 404) [nhhc_danfs]

   Locator

   DANFS entry, full text (3 narrative paragraphs + update-pending note)

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   DANFS record for this hull: laid down 6 January 1969 by Lockheed Shipbuilding & Construction Co., Seattle, Wash.; launched 1 August 1970, cosponsored by Mrs. James C. Curry and Mrs. Robert Svinger; commissioned 31 July 1971, Cmdr. Francisco Velazquez-Suarez, USN, commanding. Homeported San Diego for the remainder of 1971; moved to Long Beach 22 January 1972 'for an extended period of modification and equipment additions,' departing 9 November; after refresher training and local operations sailed on her first western Pacific deployment; returned to San Diego in late September 1973 after six months in the Far East. Decommissioned 28 August 1993 and transferred to the government of Turkey; stricken from the Naval Vessel Register 11 January 1995. Entry closes: 'Update, 1973-1995, pending.' Named for 1st Lt. Frank S. Reasoner, USMC, Medal of Honor (posthumous, Vietnam, KIA 12 July 1965); first ship named for him.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-28

   Study period

   1969-1995

   Population

   Lockheed construction trades 1969-71; ship's company 1971-93

   Limitations

   DANFS documents construction, identity, and service through September 1973 only - the entry itself marks the 1973-1995 record as pending, so no official narrative exists for the reclassification, deployments, overhauls, or Turkish transfer. Documents no materials or asbestos content. The Long Beach 1972 'modification' facility is not named (Long Beach Naval Shipyard is plausible but unstated). Live NHHC URL returned 404 on 2026-09-28; archived capture cited.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-reasoner-de1063-03

5. [5]Naval Vessel Register (NAVSEA), REASONER (FF 1063), ex-DE 1063 - official register detail page (archived 26 April 2012 capture) [other_primary]

   Locator

   NVR detail page for FF 1063 (status block, dates block, dimensions block)

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   Official Naval Vessel Register record for this hull: UIC 54058; class FF 1052 (Knox); builder 'LOCKHEED SB CONSTR'; award date 22 July 1964; keel 6 January 1969; launch 1 August 1970; delivery 22 June 1971; commission 31 July 1971; decommission 28 August 1993 (22.1 years commission to decommission); stricken 11 January 1995; status 'Disposed of through the Security Assistance Program (SAP), transferred, Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) Section 516, Southern Region Amendment' with date status changed 22 February 2002; overall length 438 ft, extreme beam 47 ft, maximum navigational draft 25 ft.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-28

   Study period

   1964-2002

   Population

   Ship's company 1971-93; Turkish crew 1993-2002

   Limitations

   Register documents lifecycle dates, dimensions, and the disposal path - no materials or asbestos content. The 2012 capture predates the current nvr.navy.mil redesign; the live detail page is not retrievable in static form (JS application). The FAA Section 516 disposal notation describes the 2002 sale mechanism, while the 1993 lease authority is Public Law 103-54 - both carried.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-reasoner-de1063-04

6. [6]Public Law 103-54 (H.R. 2561, 103rd Cong., 28 July 1993, 107 Stat. 274), 'To authorize the transfer of naval vessels to certain foreign countries,' sec. 1(f)(1) [other_primary]

   Locator

   P.L. 103-54, sec. 1(f)(1) (TURKEY); govinfo enrolled-bill text identical to enacted law

   Finding type

   historical_record

   Finding

   Federal statute names this hull: 'The Secretary of the Navy is authorized to transfer to the Government of Turkey the "KNOX" class frigates REASONER (FF 1063), FANNING (FF 1076), THOMAS C. HART (FF 1092), and CAPODANNO (FF 1093). Such transfers shall be on lease basis under chapter 6 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2796 and following).' This is the legal authority for the 28 August 1993 lease transfer to Turkey recorded by DANFS and the NVR.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-28

   Study period

   1993

   Limitations

   Documents the transfer authority only - no asbestos, hazmat, or material-condition provision for this hull appears in the enacted text. Establishes that the transfer was a lease under AECA chapter 6; the later 2002 sale proceeded under FAA section 516 per the NVR.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-reasoner-de1063-05

7. [7]NavSource Destroyer Escort Photo Archive, USS Reasoner (DE 1063) - class specifications block and 'Building and Operational Data' timeline [other_primary]

   Locator

   navsource.net/archives/06/06021063.htm - Specifications block; Reasoner (DE 1063) Building and Operational Data

   Finding type

   vessel_history

   Finding

   NavSource volunteer archive record for this hull: Knox class, SCB No. 199C/1964, 46 ships; displacement 3,020 tons standard / 4,065 full; 438 ft overall; 2 Combustion Engineering 1200-psi boilers, 1 Westinghouse geared turbine, 35,000 shp, 1 shaft, 27 kt; complement 16 officers / 211 enlisted. Operational timeline: commissioned 31 July 1971 and assigned to CruDesPac San Diego; reclassified FF-1063 on 30 June 1975; Village People 'In the Navy' music video filmed aboard summer 1979; decommissioned at Naval Station San Diego 28 August 1993 after 22 years and 1 month; leased to Turkey the same day and renamed TCG Kocatepe (F-252); stricken 11 January 1995; lease renewed 29 August 1997; sold to Turkey 22 February 2002; decommissioned by Turkey late 2002; sunk as a target in the eastern Mediterranean 4 May 2005. Ribbon rack includes Southwest Asia Service Medal with one star and Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), consistent with a 1990 Desert Shield deployment.

   Verification

   partial

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   ship_specific

   Accessed

   2026-09-28

   Study period

   1964-2005

   Population

   Ship's company 1971-93; Turkish crew 1993-2002

   Limitations

   Volunteer-maintained archive, not an official source - used for specifications and the post-1973 operational timeline that DANFS leaves pending. Dates shared with DANFS/NVR agree; items resting on NavSource alone (1979 filming, Turkish decommissioning year, sinking date/location) are unverified against primary records. Contains no asbestos information.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-reasoner-de1063-06

8. [8]NavSource class specifications (Knox class, SCB 199C steam plant) + 9th Cir. record of the 1980 whole-ship removal (ev-01) [other_primary]

   Locator

   NavSource specifications block (plant data); GAO HRD-80-2 program context; 914 F.2d 1317 para. 15

   Finding type

   asbestos_application

   Finding

   Era/class inference: a Knox-class ocean escort built 1969-71 with a two-boiler 1200-psi steam plant would have carried period-standard asbestos thermal insulation on boilers, turbine and reduction-gear casings, main and auxiliary steam piping, plus asbestos gaskets, packing, fireproofing, and deck coverings - the same applications the Navy was removing fleet-wide in this era. Consistent with, and here superseded by, the ship-specific record: this hull's insulation asbestos was removed ship-wide by 25 November 1980 (ev-01) and residual asbestos was adjudicated to remain only in 'certain gaskets.'

   Verification

   inferred

   Role

   supporting

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-28

   Study period

   1969-1980

   Population

   Lockheed construction trades 1969-71; engineering watch-standers 1971-80

   Limitations

   Class/era inference only - the ship-specific finding for this hull is ev-01/ev-02; this row supplies context, not an independent ship-specific finding. The 1980 removal makes pre-removal era application the correct historical framing, not a statement about material aboard after 1980.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-reasoner-de1063-07

9. [9]GAO HRD-80-2, 'Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure' (18 Oct. 1979) [gao]

   Locator

   GAO product page summary + report text (Navy response, attachment 1 scope)

   Finding type

   regulatory

   Finding

   GAO review of the Navy's asbestos program: the 1975 policy removed and replaced with non-asbestos materials only insulation that was damaged or had to be removed for necessary repairs; modified in 1979 to add selective replacement of asbestos insulation in high-maintenance areas where repairs would be expected during a ship's next operating cycle; the Navy estimated $2 billion for a one-time removal program and declined it. Reasoner's whole-ship removal completed in November 1980 - 'designed to completely eliminate asbestos,' exceeding the customary partial removal - sits squarely inside this policy era.

   Verification

   verified

   Role

   context

   Documentation level

   class_or_era

   Accessed

   2026-09-28

   Study period

   1975-1979 (policy); 1980 (Reasoner removal)

   Population

   Navy shipyard workers and ship crews fleet-wide (program context)

   Limitations

   Program-level context only - does not name this hull or any Knox-class ship; the fieldwork yards were Long Beach and Norfolk Naval Shipyards. The 1980 Reasoner removal's scope (whole ship vs. selective) is not explained by the policy as reported. gao.gov full text returned HTTP 403 to automated fetch on 2026-09-28; product-page abstract and previously-indexed attachment text used.

   Atlas source

   true

   Evidence ID

   ev-uss-reasoner-de1063-08

10. [10]Gorman v. Garlock, Inc., 155 Wn.2d 198, 118 P.3d 311 (2005) [court_record]

    Locator

    155 Wn.2d 198, paras. 1-3 (Gorman employment and allegations)

    Finding type

    litigation_documented

    Finding

    Builder-yard asbestos litigation context: Washington Supreme Court opinion recites that Donald Gorman 'was employed in various shipbuilding and ship-repair jobs at the Washington shipyards of both Lockheed and Todd from 1960 to 1975' and alleged exposure to 'asbestos and asbestos-containing products' there, developing asbestos-related illness including lung cancer; suits against Lockheed and Todd were dismissed on LHWCA exclusive-liability grounds (affirmed). The 1960-75 window covers this hull's 1969-71 construction at Lockheed, and the same two yards appear in the hull's own record (Lockheed builder; Todd 1980-81 availability).

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    context

    Documentation level

    class_or_era

    Accessed

    2026-09-28

    Study period

    1960-1975 (exposure allegation); 2004-05 (litigation)

    Population

    Lockheed and Todd Washington shipyard workers, 1960-75

    Limitations

    Pleading-stage allegation resolved on statutory exclusivity - the opinion recites alleged exposure, never adjudicates exposure at either yard, and does not name this hull. Yard-level context for the builder era only; the companion Picinich opinion (ev-02) does establish 'undisputed' significant Lockheed-yard exposure for that worker over 1957-81. The Atlas shipyards.json Lockheed entry carries this case as its flagship, marked 'disputed.'

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-reasoner-de1063-09

11. [11]National Archives Catalog - deck-log file units 'Reasoner (DE-1063)' (NAIDs 649729732 Jan 1975, 665651407 Feb 1975, 631815680 Jun 1975, ~187-205 digital objects each); series: U.S. Navy Deck Logs, Archives II College Park [other_primary]

    Locator

    catalog.archives.gov file units 649729732, 665651407, 631815680 ('Reasoner (DE-1063)'); History Hub thread 'Operation End Sweep' (veteran deck-log reference)

    Finding type

    historical_record

    Finding

    NARA holds deck logs for this hull in its digitization program: three file units are already digitized in the Catalog (January, February, and June 1975, ~187-205 page-images each). Textual deck logs covering the 1973 WestPac/Operation End Sweep period and the 1980-81 Todd Pacific yard period (during which the whole-ship asbestos removal was performed) are held at Archives II, College Park; a veteran's reference on the NARA History Hub confirms obtaining April-August 1973 logs containing Operation End Sweep / Task Force 78 notations. The 1980-81 logs would pinpoint the removal-period availability; RG 19 ship plans/construction records are a parallel lead for hull-level material specifications.

    Verification

    partial

    Role

    archival_lead

    Documentation level

    ship_specific

    Accessed

    2026-09-28

    Study period

    1971-1993 (log span); 1975 digitized units confirmed

    Population

    Ship's company (log coverage of operations, availabilities)

    Limitations

    Archival lead only - the digitized units are 1975 logs; the 1973 and 1980-81 logs are textual holdings not yet retrieved or reviewed, and their asbestos/yard content is unverified until read. Log coverage of the removal period is inferred from the opinion's dates, not confirmed.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-reasoner-de1063-10

12. [12]CourtListener API v4 litigation sweep for this hull (opinion index, exact-name and hull-number queries; RECAP docket index attempted) [court_record]

    Locator

    search_ledger rows sl-uss-reasoner-de1063-04 through -06

    Finding type

    litigation_documented

    Finding

    Litigation sweep result: exact-name opinion search ("USS Reasoner" / "U.S.S. Reasoner") returned a single qualifying asbestos case - Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. v. Director, OWCP, 914 F.2d 1317 (9th Cir. 1990) - carried at ev-01/ev-02. Hull-number opinion search ("DE-1063" / "FF-1063") returned 5 hits, all numeric collisions (page/docket numbers in unrelated immigration, criminal, and contract cases); none name this hull. No other qualifying asbestos litigation naming this hull was located. RECAP docket-level searches could not be completed within the session's shared request budget.

    Verification

    verified

    Role

    negative_finding

    Documentation level

    ship_specific

    Accessed

    2026-09-28

    Study period

    2026-09-28 (search date)

    Limitations

    Absence of additional located litigation does not prove absence of claims - the sweep covers CourtListener's opinion index and could not reach RECAP docket text in this session (fleet pacing); state-court and unindexed claims are outside scope. The one qualifying case is an LHWCA benefits proceeding, not a tort plaintiff verdict.

    Atlas source

    true

    Evidence ID

    ev-uss-reasoner-de1063-11