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USS Bearss (DD-654)
Encyclopedia
USS Bearss (DD-654) was a Fletcher-class
destroyer
of the United States Navy
, named for Brigadier General
Hiram I. Bearss
(1875–1938), USMC
, who was awarded the Medal of Honor
during the Philippine-American War
.
Bearss was launched
25 July 1943 by Gulf Shipbuilding Corp., Chickasaw, Ala.
, sponsored by Mrs. Louise Bearss, widow of General Bearss; and commissioned
12 April 1944, Commander
J. A. Webster in command.
and operated in Hawai
ian waters during July 1944. On 9 August 1944, she arrived at Adak, Alaska
, and served with Task Force 92 (TF 92) and TF 94 in anti-shipping sweeps and bombardments in the Kuril Islands
, as well as patrolling in the Sea of Okhotsk
until the end of the war. She took part in the bombardments of Matsuwa (21 November 1944, 16 March, and 11–12 June 1945), Suribachi Wan (5 January and 19 May 1945); Kurabu Wan (18 February 1945); and the anti-shipping sweeps (19 May, 25 June, 17-19, 22 July, and 11 August 1945). Bearss arrived at Ominato, Honshū
, 8 September 1945 and patrolled along the southern coast of Hokkaidō
until returning to the United States. She arrived at Charleston, S.C., 22 December 1945; went into commission in reserve 12 July 1946; and out of commission in reserve 31 January 1947.
on normal peacetime operations. She made two Mediterranean cruises and one Far East
ern cruise (April-October 1954), which took her around the world.
In 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 sold 14 April 1976 and broken up for scrap.
Fletcher class destroyer
The Fletcher class were a class of destroyers built by the United States during World War II. The class was designed in 1939 as a result of dissatisfaction with the earlier destroyer leader types...
destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, named for Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Hiram I. Bearss
Hiram I. Bearss
Hiram Iddings Bearss was an officer of the United States Marine Corps who received the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Philippine-American War and the Distinguished Service Cross for his valor in World War I....
(1875–1938), USMC
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, who was awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
during the Philippine-American War
Philippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
.
Bearss was launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
25 July 1943 by Gulf Shipbuilding Corp., Chickasaw, Ala.
Chickasaw, Alabama
Chickasaw is a city in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. As of July 2007, the population was 5,979. It is included in the Mobile metropolitan statistical area.-Geography:Chickasaw is located at . According to the U.S...
, sponsored by Mrs. Louise Bearss, widow of General Bearss; and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
12 April 1944, Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
J. A. Webster in command.
World War II
Bearss reported to the Pacific FleetUnited States Pacific Fleet
The United States Pacific Fleet is a Pacific Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its home port is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii. It is commanded by Admiral Patrick M...
and operated in Hawai
Hawai
Hawai can mean:*Hawai, Tottori, town in Tottori Prefecture, Japan*Hawai, India, the administrative headquarters of Anjaw District, in Arunachal Pradesh, India*Hawai, New Zealand in New Zealand...
ian waters during July 1944. On 9 August 1944, she arrived at Adak, Alaska
Adak, Alaska
Adak , formerly Adak Station, is a city in the Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 326. It is the westernmost municipality in the United States and the southernmost city in Alaska. The city is the former location of the Adak Army Base and Adak...
, and served with Task Force 92 (TF 92) and TF 94 in anti-shipping sweeps and bombardments in the Kuril Islands
Kuril Islands
The Kuril Islands , in Russia's Sakhalin Oblast region, form a volcanic archipelago that stretches approximately northeast from Hokkaidō, Japan, to Kamchatka, Russia, separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific Ocean. There are 56 islands and many more minor rocks. It consists of Greater...
, as well as patrolling in the Sea of Okhotsk
Sea of Okhotsk
The Sea of Okhotsk is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, lying between the Kamchatka Peninsula on the east, the Kuril Islands on the southeast, the island of Hokkaidō to the far south, the island of Sakhalin along the west, and a long stretch of eastern Siberian coast along the west and...
until the end of the war. She took part in the bombardments of Matsuwa (21 November 1944, 16 March, and 11–12 June 1945), Suribachi Wan (5 January and 19 May 1945); Kurabu Wan (18 February 1945); and the anti-shipping sweeps (19 May, 25 June, 17-19, 22 July, and 11 August 1945). Bearss arrived at Ominato, Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
, 8 September 1945 and patrolled along the southern coast of Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
until returning to the United States. She arrived at Charleston, S.C., 22 December 1945; went into commission in reserve 12 July 1946; and out of commission in reserve 31 January 1947.
Post war
Bearss was recommissioned 7 September 1951 and joined Destroyer Division 322 (DesDiv 322), Destroyer Squadron 32 (DesRon 32), Atlantic Fleet. She served along the Atlantic coast and in the CaribbeanCaribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
on normal peacetime operations. She made two Mediterranean cruises and one Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
ern cruise (April-October 1954), which took her around the world.
In August and September 1958, the Bearss was part of Navy Task Force 88 (TF 88), during Operation Argus
Operation Argus
Operation Argus was a series of nuclear weapons tests and missile tests secretly conducted during August and September 1958 over the South Atlantic Ocean by the United States's Defense Nuclear Agency, in conjunction with the Explorer 4 space mission. Operation Argus was conducted between the...
, which was involved in conducting nuclear tests in the very high atmosphere.
Bearss was decommissioned 1963. She was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register
Naval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
1 December 1974. The ship was sold 14 April 1976 and broken up for scrap.