She was named for Richard Bull, born in New York City, 14 July 1914.He enlisted in the Naval Reserve in 1938 and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1939. Lt. (junior grade) Bull was lost 5 February 1942 during action in the Netherlands East Indies. He was posthumously awarded the Distinquished Flying Cross.

    The Bull was launched 25 March1943 by Defoe Shipbuilding Company, Bay City, MI and was sponsored by Mrs. Ruth P. Bull, widow of Lieutenant (junior grade) Bull. She was commissioned DE-693 on 12 August 1943. Lt. D. W. Farnham, USNR became her first commander.

    After her shakedown cruise to Bermuda, the Bull returned to her home port, Boston. On the way, she performed her first duty: she escorted a troop transport, the S. S. Washington to Norfolk. From then to July, 1944, she made six convoy trips to Northern Ireland.

    On July 28, 1944, she was moored at Todd Shipyards, Brooklyn, NY, for conversion from DE 693 to APD 78. After that, in November, she left for Norfolk and shortly thereafter was on her way to Pearl Harbor. Her crew soon found out the reason for her hurried trip westward. She took on Combat Underwater Demolition Team Fourteen and headed west. She stopped briefly at Eniwetok, Ulithi and toward the last of December arrived at Paulau islands, the staging area for the invasion of Luzon.

    She furnished fire support and screening at Lingayen Gulf in January, 1945, Iwo Jima February-March and Okinawa March-July. She performed occupation duties after the war. She was awarded three battle stars.