The USS The Sullivans (DD-537) was a Fletcher-class destroyer laid down in 1942, launched and commissioned in 1943. Following a shakedown cruise, the ship got underway to join the DesRon52. In 1944, she steamed out of Pearl Harbor with Task Group 58.2 to fulfill screening duties for other vessels that launched nearly continuous aerial raids in the Battle of Kwajalein. In 1945, the destroyer screened TG 38.2's air strikes in support of the American landings on Luzon, served on radar picket duty, and rendered emergency assistance. In the Korean War, she served with Task Force 77, screening the fast carriers in their air strikes and bombarding railroad trains and tunnels to prevent enemy supply lines. The vessel was assigned to the 6th Fleet in 1954, alternating East Coast operations with Mediterranean deployments and participating in NATO exercises. Between 1961 and 1962, the destroyer underwent a major overhaul and served as a training ship for officer students until she was decommissioned in 1965. The ship was stricken from the Register in 1974. Anyone who worked onboard the USS The Sullivans (DD-537) or was involved in her repairs should consult a doctor if they experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, dry cough or wheezing, chest pain, or tightness.
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