USS Sarsi ( ATF - 111 ) USS " Sarsi " ( AT - 111 / ATF - 111 ) was an " Abnaki " - class fleet ocean tug commissioned in California in 1943 . She served during World War II in North Pacific waters , and during the Korean War , she performed her towing services until she was sunk during Typhoon Karen in 1952 by a drifting naval mine off the coast of Korea . Constructed in California . " Sarsi " ( AT - 111 ) was laid down on 25 January 1943 by the United Engineering and Dry Dock Co . , Alameda , California ; launched on 12 June 1943 ; sponsored by Mrs . Robert E . Christy ; redesignated " ATF - 111 " on 15 May 1944 ; and commissioned on 24 June 1944 , Lt . H . J . Perry , Jr . , USNR , in command . World War II service . Following shakedown training off southern California , " Sarsi " headed north to assume fleet tug duties in the 17th Naval District , headquartered at Kodiak ( temporarily Adak ) Alaska . She arrived in the Aleutians on 19 August and , by the end of World War II , had completed 45 jobs in the Aleutians and , on four occasions , had supported units of the North Pacific Task Force s engaged in raids against the Kuriles and enemy shipping north of Hokkaido . During the latter , no casualties were inflicted on the ships of the attack forces . In carrying out her varied missions - salvage , towing , personnel and cargo lifts - in the Aleutian chain , the tug operated from Unalaska , Kodiak , Umnak , Seguam , Adak , Tanaga , Amatignak , Amchitka , Shemya , and Attu . Post - war service . After the war , she remained on active duty and continued to provide tug and transportation services to ships and bases in the Aleutians . In the spring of 1947 , she returned to southern California and commenced operations out of San Diego , California , which took her south along the west coast to Panama ; west to the Hawaiian , Marshall , and Mariana Islands ; and , five years later , north , back to the Aleutians . By that time , however , war had returned to the Pacific ; and the United States was involved in the United Nations effort in Korea . Korean War service . On 24 March 1952 , " Sarsi " , commanded by Lt . W . M . Howard , departed San Diego , California , and sailed west . On 18 April , she arrived at Sasebo , Japan . On the 20th , she took on ammunition ; and , a week later , she continued on toward the embattled Korean peninsula . At the end of the month , she moored on the east side of Yodp , in the approaches to Wonsan harbor ; and , as a unit of Task Group 92 . 2 , the east coast Blockade and Escort Force , she performed towing , salvage , patrol , escort , buoy tender , and transportation duties . On 19 May , she returned to Sasebo , whence she completed one rescue mission and several towing assignments to southeastern Korean and Japan ese ports . In late June , she operated off the west coast of Korea . In July , she again operated between southeastern Korea and Kyūshū ; and , on 19 August , she returned to the Wonsan area and resumed her varied duties there . Sunk in Typhoon Karen . On the 20th , typhoon “ Karen ” hit the coast . For the next week , " Sarsi " towed various vessels ; carried light cargo and personnel ; relocated buoys and conducted nighttime , close - inshore anti - mining and anti - junk patrols . On the afternoon of the 27th , she refueled from " Cimarron " ; and , at 1847 , moved north to patrol along the edge of the mineswept waters between Wonsan and Hungnam . At 2200 , all unnecessary lights were extinguished . She reached Hungnam without incident ; but , as she turned to return to Wonsan , a drifting mine , probably cut loose by the typhoon , exploded against her hull . Damage control efforts proved futile , and " Sarsi " sank in twenty minutes . Four men were killed . The remainder , including four wounded , spent the night in , or clinging to , life rafts , life preservers , and the ship ' s whale boat . The whale boat , kept pointed out to sea with lines to the rafts , prevented drifting onto the enemy held shore . Rescue ships – destroyer " Boyd " , and minesweepers " Zeal " and " Competent " — arrived in the morning ; and carried the survivors to friendly territory for medical treatment and reassignment . Honors and awards . " Sarsi " earned two campaign stars for her service during the Korean War .