USS Bullard DD-660

Fletcher-class destroyers were most common type of vessel utilized by the U.S. Navy during World War II. The USS Bullard (DD-660) was a Fletcher-class ship. Her keel was laid on 16 October 1942, and she was completed on April 9, 1943. Following her shakedown cruise along the east coast and in the Caribbean, Bullard sailed for Pearl Harbor, reporting for duty on 29 August.

Except for one voyage home to California between September 1944 and February 1945, Bullard spent the remainder of the war in the thick of the action in a wide range of capacities, including fire support, aircraft screening, and radar picket (detection of incoming enemy craft) as well as routine patrol duty. Amazingly, she was hit only once, by a kamikaze attacker in April 1945, but suffered only minor damage.

After undergoing repairs in Okinawa, Bullard was involved in raids on the Japanese mainland by the Third Fleet during the last weeks of the war. She continued on, supporting the occupation until she was ordered home. Arriving in San Pedro, California, on 3 December 1945, she continued on routine patrols for another year before she was ordered to stand down and report to San Diego for deactivation.

She was placed in reserve on 20 December 1946, but never served again. The USS Bullard was sold for scrap in 1973.

Asbestos Risks

Up until the 1960s, ships used by the United States Navy commonly utilized the toxic mineral known as asbestos for insulation and fire control. Though practically all parts of a ship such as the USS Bullard presented a measurable level of asbestos contamination, a ship's engines and mechanical spaces were usually the areas where those aboard a vessel were at the greatest risk of inhaling or ingesting asbestos particles. Even greater danger of asbestos exposure occurred whenever a ship or vessel was damaged, whether in battle or during the daily course of operation. This could cause asbestos fibers to break off and become airborne. Anyone nearby may have been exposed to the toxic fibers and inhaled them into their body

Exposure to asbestos can cause the development of a serious asbestos-related illness such as mesothelioma, asbestosis or lung cancer. Mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, can develop when asbestos fibers become lodged in organs or body cavities, causing inflammation or infection. Navy veterans with a history of exposure to asbestos fibers should inform their medical professionals about this history to aid in the detection of an asbestos-related disease since diagnosis can be difficult.

Since symptoms often resemble more common illnesses such as influenza, many are unaware of the severity of their condition. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or served aboard the USS Bullard or worked on the construction or repairs of the vessel and wish to learn more about the cancer, treatment and legal options, please click here and Asbestos.com will send you a complimentary comprehensive packet in the mail.

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Destroyers Index