Rear Admiral Ross P. Bullard
Eagle Scout 1930
Distinguished Eagle Scout 1975
Ross P. Bullard was born on March 26, 1914, in Decatur, Illinois, where he graduated from Decatur High School in 1932. While in high school, he earned a football letter, served as president of the Senior Class, and became an Eagle Scout.
A Battalion Commander as a Cadet, he graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut, with a B.S. Degree and a commission as Ensign on May 29, 1939.
Before and during the early part of World War II, he served on board the Coast Guard Cutter Spencer first at Cordova, Alaska, and then in the North Atlantic on convoy escort duty. From July 1943 to April 1944, he served as an Administration and Organization Instructor at the Coast Guard Training Station in St. Augustine, Florida. He then returned to combat duty on board the Cutter Spencer in the capacity of Executive Officer. At the war’s end, he had earned three combat stars for European campaigns and six for Pacific campaigns.
In December 1945, he was assigned to the Demobilization Division Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, D.C. Between January 1950 and May 1952, he commanded first the tender Balsam and then the 255-foot Cutter Klamath in the North Pacific and Alaskan waters, including Bering Sea Patrol duty with the latter vessel.
After completing a year as a student at the U.S. Navy Postgraduate School of Communications, Monterey, California, he was assigned to the Communications Division at Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, D.C., in July 1953. During that assignment, he first served as a Liaison Officer in the Office of the Director of Naval Communications, Plans and Readiness Branch, until November 1954, when he became Assistant Chief, Communications Division. In June 1958, he returned to sea duty in command of the 311-ft. ocean station vessel Casco, based at Boston, Massachusetts.
From February 1960 to August 1962, he served as Commander, International Ice Patrol with offices in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and at Argentia, Newfoundland, during the patrol seasons.
During his next tour of duty, the then-Captain Bullard served as Captain of the Port of New York and as Group Commander, New York, for three years. From June 1965 to July 1966, he was Chief, Mobilization and Planning Officer on the staff of the Coast Guard Commander, Western Area, at San Francisco. He then served as Chief, Operations Division, 12th Coast Guard District under that area command for one year.
By nomination of the President on April 2, 1967, and by the approval of the Senate, he was appointed a two-star flag officer, to rank as permanent Rear Admiral, from July 1, 1967. By that date, he was performing the duties of a flag officer in the post of Commander, 8th Coast Guard District, New Orleans, which includes practically the entire Gulf of Mexico and the U.S. Gulf Coast from the Mexican border at Brownsville, Texas, to Apalachee Bay, southeast of Tallahassee, Florida. He held that post for four years.
In July 1971, RADM Bullard was transferred to the post of Commander, 5th Coast Guard District, Portsmouth, Virginia, which included the middle Atlantic states of Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina.
Following is a resume of RADM Bullard’s appointments in rank: Cadet, August 5, 1935; Ensign, May 29, 1939; Lieutenant (j.g.), November 1, 1941; Lieutenant, June 15, 1942; Lieutenant Commander, December 1, 1943; Commander, January 26, 1951; Captain, July 1, 1960; Rear Admiral, July 1, 1967.
RADM Bullard’s World War II campaign service medals and ribbons include the following: American Defense Service (one star); American Area; European-African-Middle Eastern Area (three stars); Asiatic-Pacific Area (six stars); World War II Victory; Navy Occupation Medal; China Service Medal; Philippine Liberation (one star); Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation. He also has the Korean Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal.
RADM Bullard is married to the former Alice H. Kimball of Hingham, Massachusetts. They have two children, Alice K., and Ross P. Jr.