- USS Kite (AMS-22)
USS "Kite" (MSC(O)-22/AMS-22/YMS-374) was a YMSsub|135 built for the
United States Navy duringWorld War II .History
"Kite" was laid down as "YMS-324" on
31 January 1943 by theWeaver Shipyards inOrange, Texas , and launched17 February 1944 . She was completed and commissioned on31 May 1944 with Lt. (j.g.) Robert A. Harris in command.After shakedown out of
Little Creek, Virginia , andminesweeping operations inMassachusetts Bay , "YMS-374" clearedBoston, Massachusetts ,30 September and steamed toward the Pacific war zone. The minesweeper arrivedPearl Harbor 18 November and following formation sweeping maneuvers, sailed22 January 1945 escorting LST Flotilla 21 toSaipan ."YMS-374" participated in the
Battle of Iwo Jima , arriving off the island17 February . She cleared lanes for landings scheduled 2 days later. Following the invasion, "YMS-374" madeantisubmarine patrols, escorted support ships, and laidsmoke screens before retiring to thePhilippines and arrivingLeyte 8 March . The minesweeper steamed into Saipan28 March and for nearly 5 months she operated in the Marianas on ASW patrols,convoy escort,submarine training exercises, and plane guard duty for crews of downedB-29 bombers . After the fighting stopped "YMS-374" sailed forKakyoto Island on the southwestern coast ofKorea to clear approaches toJinsen for the landing of occupation troops. She swept Korean waters until she sailed7 September for minesweeping operations in the Nagasaki – Sasebo area. "YMS-374" departed Japan29 December and arrived on theU.S. West Coast in January 1946.After a year of operations out of
California she was renamed USS "Kite" (AMS-22) on18 February 1947 . She decommissioned that same day and was placed in thePacific Reserve Fleet . "Kite" recommissioned9 May 1949 , Lt. (j.g.) Nicholas Grkovic in command. After repairs in San Diego andLong Beach, California , she sailed for Pearl Harbor25 July and clearedHawaii 26 September for operations in the Western Pacific out of Japan.Soon after the outbreak of the
Korean War , "Kite" sailed13 July 1950 forPusan . Operating in that area through most of the summer, "Kite" sailed12 September to clear waters approachingInchon . The amphibious assault which followed there was among the most successful operations of the war and began a major Allied land offensive. During October, as the drive intoNorth Korea gathered momentum, the minesweeper arrived atWonsan to open the mined harbor to Alliedsupply ship s and then retired toYokosuka, Japan , for repairs. "Kite" returned to the conflict zone5 January 1951 , and for the rest of the conflict she continued mine clearing operations along the Korean coast. Her services allowed Allied supply and fire support ships to complete their missions through heavily mined waters. After the Korean truce27 June 1953 , "Kite" remained in theFar East continuing minesweeping operations out of Korea and Japan."Kite" was reclassified MSC(O)-22 on
7 February 1955 . On6 January 1956 she was decommissioned atChinhae , South Korea, and transferred to theRepublic of Korea Navy as "Kim Po" (MSC-520). Her ultimate fate is unknown.Awards and honors
"Kite" received 2
battle star s for World War II service, and 10 for Korean War service.Notable crew members
Lt. (j.g.)
Macy DuBois , who later went on to become a noted architect inCanada , was serving as commanding officer of "Kite" when he retired from U.S. Navy service in 1954.cite book |title=Who's Who In Canada, 1975–76 |pages=398 |publisher=International Press Limited |location=Toronto |author=E. W. Whelpton |id=issn|0083-9450]References
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External links
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