USS Kite ( AMS - 22 ) USS " Kite " ( MSC ( O ) - 22 / AMS - 22 / YMS - 374 ) was a built for the United States Navy during World War II . History . " Kite " was laid down as " YMS - 324 " on 31 January 1943 by the Weaver Shipyards in Orange , Texas , and launched 17 February 1944 . She was completed and commissioned on 31 May 1944 with Lt . ( j . g . ) Robert A . Harris in command . After shakedown out of Little Creek , Virginia , and minesweeping operations in Massachusetts Bay , " YMS - 374 " cleared Boston , Massachusetts , 30 September and steamed toward the $ 3 war zone . The minesweeper arrived Pearl Harbor 18 November and following formation sweeping maneuvers , sailed 22 January 1945 escorting LST Flotilla 21 to Saipan . " YMS - 374 " participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima , arriving off the island 17 February . She cleared lanes for landings scheduled 2 days later . Following the invasion , " YMS - 374 " made antisubmarine patrols , escorted support ships , and laid smoke screens before retiring to the Philippines and arriving Leyte 8 March . The minesweeper steamed into Saipan 28 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 downed B - 29 bombers . After the fighting stopped " YMS - 374 " sailed for Kakyoto Island on the southwestern coast of Korea to clear approaches to Jinsen for the landing of occupation troops . She swept Korean waters until she sailed 7 September for minesweeping operations in the Nagasaki – Sasebo area . " YMS - 374 " departed Japan 29 December and arrived on the U . S . West Coast in January 1946 . After a year of operations out of California she was renamed USS " Kite " ( AMS - 22 ) on 18 February 1947 . She decommissioned that same day and was placed in the Pacific Reserve Fleet . " Kite " recommissioned 9 May 1949 , Lt . ( j . g . ) Nicholas Grkovic in command . After repairs in San Diego and Long Beach , California , she sailed for Pearl Harbor 25 July and cleared Hawaii 26 September for operations in the Western Pacific out of Japan . Soon after the outbreak of the Korean War , " Kite " sailed 13 July 1950 for Pusan . Operating in that area through most of the summer , " Kite " sailed 12 September to clear waters approaching Inchon . 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 into North Korea gathered momentum , the minesweeper arrived at Wonsan to open the mined harbor to Allied supply ship s and then retired to Yokosuka , Japan , for repairs . " Kite " returned to the conflict zone 5 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 27 July 1953 , " Kite " remained in the Far East continuing minesweeping operations out of Korea and Japan . " Kite " was reclassified MSC ( O ) - 22 on 7 February 1955 . On 6 January 1956 she was decommissioned at Chinhae , South Korea , and transferred to the Republic 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 in Canada , was serving as commanding officer of " Kite " when he retired from U . S . Navy service in 1954 .