USS Bulmer DD-222

As a Clemson-class destroyer, the USS Bulmer (DD-222) was among the oldest vessels in the U.S. Navy before World War II began and was obsolete in many ways. Nonetheless, the need for vessels was great, and the ship was still serviceable. The Navy found uses for dated destroyers, and many wound up serving with distinction.

The Bulmer was a product of the William Cramp and Sons shipyard in Philadelphia. Her keel was laid in early August 1919, and she was launched the following January. She was commissioned on 16 August 1920 and placed under the command of Lieutenant Commander J. C. Jennings.

Unlike most of the Clemson-class vessels, the Bulmer was never decommissioned until the very end of her service and her active service was continuous from 1920 until 1946. During the early 1920s, the Bulmer served in Europe and in the eastern Mediterranean. In 1925, she was ordered to the Pacific for duty with the Asiatic Fleet. For the next 14 years, she spent her winters in the Philippines and her summers based in the Chinese port of Che-Fu (now Yantai).

In 1939, the Bulmer was reassigned to Squadron 29 of Destroyer Division 58 and served with the Neutrality Patrol when hostilities broke out, monitoring actions between belligerents. After participating in war games during 1940 and early 1941, she resume routine patrols in the Philippines.

Following the attack of Pearl Harbor, Bulmer was assigned to various patrol, escort, and anti-submarine duties in the South Pacific, surviving the disastrous Battle of Bali Sea in February 1942 as well as an unsuccessful attempt to intercept Japanese troop carriers off the coast of Sumatra. On February 19 she was ordered to Exmouth Gulf, Australia for refitting and repairs.

The Bulmer remained in Australia until May 1942, then reported back to Pearl Harbor for convoy escort service between Hawaii and the San Francisco Bay area.

The following year, she was ordered to the Atlantic, reporting to New York for anti-submarine patrol in the North Atlantic on 14 June. Bulmer continued in this capacity throughout the remainder of that summer. Her next post was the port of Swansea, Wales. Between early October 1943 and the end of July 1944, she escorted convoys traveling between northern Europe and North Africa.

Bulmer returned to the United States in August 1944. For the first two months, she operated in Narragansett Bay off Rhode Island, then was sent to the Panama Canal Zone from 27 December 1944 until July of 1945. She was then transferred to Port Everglades, Florida, continuing her service until she was decommissioned in August of 1946. The USS Bulmer was sold for scrap in February 1947.

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 Bulmer 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 Bulmer 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