Name/Title
Robert W. Amidon UniformsEntry/Object ID
NavyUniform2022.22Description
Robert William Amidon
SN:2369191
Yoeman Third Class
Enlisted: December 15, 1942
Discharged:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Date of Death:
USS Bullard DD-660
Fletcher Class Destroyer
Plank Owner
Received: April 9, 1943
Transferred: June 10, 1945
Transferred to USS Dixie (AD14) temporary duty pending FURAS by REP/CDP.
USS Dixie
Received: June 10, 1945
Received from USS Bullard
Transferred: June 13, 1945
Transferred to RepComDesPacSoPac&with7thflt
About the Ship:
(Courtesy of Naval History and Heritage Command)
On 30 December 1941, Admiral Harold R. Stark, then Chief of Naval Operations, wrote a memorandum to Chief, Bureau of Navigation, recommending that a destroyer be named "in honor of the memory of Rear Admiral W. H. G. Bullard." In the memorandum Admiral Stark noted "Admiral Bullard's well-known contributions to the naval and national communications set-up are historical, and, in addition, his service record was outstanding."
(DD-660: displacement: 2050 tons; length 376'5"; beam 39'7"; draft 17'9"; speed 35.2 knots; complement: 329; armament 5 5-inch guns, 10 40mm guns, 7 20mm guns, 2 depth charge tracks, 6 depth charge projectors, 8 21-inch torpedo tubes; class Fletcher)
Bullard (DD-660) was laid down 16 October 1942 at Kearny, N. J., by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.; launched on 28 February 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Beirne Saunders Bullard, widow of Rear Admiral Bullard; and commissioned 9 April 1943, Commander Glen R. Hartwig in command.
After conducting brief operations along the eastern seaboard and in the Caribbean, Bullard proceeded to the Pacific, arriving at Pearl Harbor on 29 August 1943. With the exception of one voyage to California for overhaul (10 September 1944-18 February 1945), she operated constantly in forward areas of the Pacific rendering fire support, plane guard, patrol, and radar picket services. She participated in the Wake Island raid (5-6 October 1943); Rabaul strike (11 November); the invasion of Tarawa (19 November-1 December); the occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls (22 January-March 1944); Admiralty Islands landings (30 March-13 April), Hollandia operation (16 April-4 May); seizure of Saipan and Guam (10 June-17 August); and the Okinawa operation (15 March-31 May 1945).
On 11 April 1945 during the Okinawa operation Bullard was slightly damaged by a Japanese suicide plane. With repairs completed at Okinawa, she departed on 31 May and steamed to Leyte. Departing Leyte Gulf, on 1 July, Bullard next participated in the 3d Fleet raids against Japan (10 July-15 August).
After the cessation of hostilities Bullard remained in the Far East engaged in occupation duties until 10 November 1945 when she departed for San Pedro, Calif., arriving on 3 December. She operated along the west coast during most of 1946 and then reported to San Diego for inactivation. Bullard was placed out of commission in reserve on 20 December 1946.Label/Inscription/Signature
Name stamped throughout uniformsParts
Count
5Parts
2 undress jumpers, 1 dress jumper, 1 pants, 1 summer white jumperCreate Date
August 15, 2022Update Date
December 2, 2022
