Ross Bullard served for almost a year in the Marine Corps before joining the Coast Guard. He was commissioned through the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut, Class of 1939. On April 17, 1943, during World War II, USCGC Spencer located U-175 on sonar as the U-boat attempted a submerged daylight attack. Depth charged, damaged, and forced to surface. Ross Bullard, then a Lieutenant, Bullard climbed aboard and determined that the U-boat was sinking too fast to salvage. Nevertheless, he became the first American serviceman to board an enemy warship underway at sea since the 19th century. He retired as a U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral in 1971.