- USS Bearss (DD-654)
USS "Bearss" (DD-654) was a "Fletcher"-class
destroyer of theUnited States Navy , named for Brigadier GeneralHiram I. Bearss (1875–1938), USMC, who was awarded theMedal of Honor during thePhilippine-American War ."Bearss" was launched
25 July 1943 byGulf Shipbuilding Corp. , Chickasaw, Ala., sponsored by Mrs. Louise Bearss, widow of General Bearss; and commissioned12 April 1944 , Commander J. A. Webster in command.History
"Bearss" reported to the Pacific Fleet and operated in
Hawai ian waters during July 1944. On9 August 1944 she arrived atAdak, Alaska , and served with Task Force 92 (TF 92) and TF 94 in anti-shipping sweeps and bombardments in theKuril Islands , as well as patrolling in theSea of Okhotsk until the end of the war. She took part in the bombardments ofMatsuwa (21 November 1944,16 March , and 11–12 June 1945 ),Suribachi Wan (5 January and19 May 1945);Kurabu Wan (18 February 1945); and the anti-shipping sweeps (19 May ,25 June , 17–19,22 July , and11 August 1945). "Bearss" arrived at Ominato,Honshū ,8 September 1945 and patrolled along the southern coast ofHokkaidō until returning to the United States. She arrived atCharleston, S.C. ,22 December 1945; went into commission in reserve12 July 1946 ; and out of commission in reserve31 January 1947 ."Bearss" was recommissioned
7 September 1951 and joined Destroyer Division 322 (DesDiv 322),Destroyer Squadron 32 (DesRon 32), Atlantic Fleet. She served along theAtlantic coast and in theCaribbean on normal peacetime operations. She made twoMediterranean cruises and oneFar East ern cruise (April–October 1954) which took her around the world.During August and September, 1958, the "Bearss" was part of "Navy Task Force 88" (TF-88), during
Operation Argus , which was involved in conducting nuclear tests in the very high atmosphere."Bearss" was decommissioned 1963. She was stricken from the
Naval Vessel Register 1 December 1974 . The ship was sold14 April 1976 and broken up for scrap."Bearss" received one
battle star for herWorld War II service.References
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b4/bearss-i.htm
External links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b4/bearss-i.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Bearss"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/654.htm navsource.org: USS "Bearss"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd654txt.htm hazegray.org: USS "Bearss"]
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