The USS Bearss (DD-654) was a Fletcher-class destroyer laid down in 1942, launched in 1943, and commissioned in 1944. The ship reported to the Pacific Fleet in 1944 and sailed to Alaska, where she served with TF92 and TF94, participating in several bombardments and carrying out anti-shipping operations. In 1945, the vessel arrived at Honshu and patrolled the southern coast of Hokkaido before returning to the US. The ship was placed into commission in reserve in 1946 and out of commission in reserve in 1947. She was recommissioned in 1951 and joined DesDiv322, DesRon32, Atlantic Fleet for normal peacetime tasks. During Operation Argus in 1958, the destroyer was part of Navy TF88, which participated in carrying out nuclear tests in the upper atmosphere. She transferred to duty as a "reserve destroyer" in 1960, operating as a part of the First Fleet's Task Force Bravo, screening carriers and taking part in antisubmarine warfare training. The USS Bearss was decommissioned in 1963 and stricken from the Register in 1974. Like other destroyers built before the 1980s, the USS Bearss contained asbestos as insulation to protect against heat, water, and corrosion. The presence of asbestos on the ship put the health of its crew at risk, with possible contamination from asbestos dust and the potential to develop related diseases decades after service.
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