Changes

When Bearss arrived in the Far East, tensions between the United States and communist China were higher than normal. Viet Minh forces in Indochina had seized Dien Bien Phu from the [[French]] on 7 May and, despite peace negotiations at Geneva, forced the French to retreat to the Red River Delta. Meanwhile, communist Chinese activity increased in coastal areas near Taiwan, especially across from the Tachen Islands, and on Hainan Island near Indochina. The destroyer operated off Korea and in the Philippines, as part of a gradual buildup of naval forces in the area, through the month of June.

When Bearss arrived in the Far East, tensions between the United States and communist China were higher than normal. Viet Minh forces in Indochina had seized Dien Bien Phu from the [[French]] on 7 May and, despite peace negotiations at Geneva, forced the French to retreat to the Red River Delta. Meanwhile, communist Chinese activity increased in coastal areas near Taiwan, especially across from the Tachen Islands, and on Hainan Island near Indochina. The destroyer operated off Korea and in the Philippines, as part of a gradual buildup of naval forces in the area, through the month of June.

Bearss then joined TG 70.2, built around Philippine Sea (CV-47), for exercises in the South China Sea. On 22 July, Chinese fighters attacked and shot down a British Air Cathay passenger airplane some 20 miles southeast of Hainan Island. Ordered to search for survivors, TG 70.2 immediately steamed to the area and soon picked up nine people from the water. On the 26th, three Douglas AD "Skyraider" search planes from Philippine Sea were attacked by two Lavochkin LA-7 fighters out of Hainan. In the ensuing dogfight, both LA-7s were splashed in short order. The destroyer then operated off Vietnam during the final Indochina peace negotiations at Geneva. After the ceasefire went into effect on 27 July, Bearss steamed to Subic Bay for a port visit.

Bearss then joined TG 70.2, built around Philippine Sea (CV-47), for exercises in the South China Sea. On 22 July, Chinese fighters attacked and shot down a British Air Cathay passenger airplane some 20 miles southeast of Hainan Island. Ordered to search for survivors, TG 70.2 immediately steamed to the area and soon picked up nine people from the water. On the 26th, three Douglas AD "Skyraider" search planes from Philippine Sea were attacked by two Lavochkin LA-7 fighters out of Hainan. In the ensuing dogfight, both LA-7s were splashed in short order. The destroyer then operated off Vietnam during the final Indochina peace negotiations at Geneva. After the [[ceasefire]] went into effect on 27 July, Bearss steamed to Subic Bay for a port visit.

On 8 August, she put to sea for Japan, arriving at Yokosuka on the 11th. The destroyer spent the rest of the month preparing to sail home via the [[Indian Ocean]] and the Mediterranean Sea. Bearss got underway on 31 August along with the rest of DesDiv 321 and Fechteler (DD-870), and the warships sailed west, stopping at Hong Kong and Singapore before passing through the Strait of Malacca on 12 September. After visits to Columbo and Aden, the destroyers then transited the Suez Canal on the 27th, visited Naples, Golfe de Juan, Lisbon, and finally Ponta Delgada by 20 October. Bearss ended her 27-week circumnavigation of the globe when she arrived at Norfolk on 28 October.

On 8 August, she put to sea for Japan, arriving at Yokosuka on the 11th. The destroyer spent the rest of the month preparing to sail home via the [[Indian Ocean]] and the Mediterranean Sea. Bearss got underway on 31 August along with the rest of DesDiv 321 and Fechteler (DD-870), and the warships sailed west, stopping at Hong Kong and Singapore before passing through the Strait of Malacca on 12 September. After visits to Columbo and Aden, the destroyers then transited the Suez Canal on the 27th, visited Naples, Golfe de Juan, Lisbon, and finally Ponta Delgada by 20 October. Bearss ended her 27-week circumnavigation of the globe when she arrived at Norfolk on 28 October.