USS Waxwing ( AM - 389 ) USS " Waxwing " ( AM - 389 ) was an acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing . She was the only U . S . Navy ship named for the waxwing , any of several American and Asiatic songbirds which are for the most part brown and are characterized by predominant crests and velvety plumage . " Waxwing " was laid down on 24 May 1944 by the American Ship Building Company , Lorain , Ohio ; launched on 10 March 1945 ; and commissioned on 6 August 1945 , Lt . Comdr . J . F . Rowe in command . Service history . Post - World War II operations . Commissioned a little over a week before Japan capitulated , " Waxwing " was too late to participate in World War II . Nevertheless , she was valuable to the Navy during the postwar period , particularly in clearing the minefields which had been planted in Far Eastern waters during the war . The ship set out on Lake Erie , transited the Welland Canal into Lake Ontario , and sailed down the Saint Lawrence River ; stopped at Quebec ; and then continued on to the Atlantic Ocean . The minesweeper was fitted out at Boston , Massachusetts , and then conducted shakedown in nearby waters . On 28 September , she arrived at the Norfolk , Virginia , operating area to prepare for service in the Pacific Fleet . " Waxwing " transited the Panama Canal ; and , on 2 January 1946 , the minesweeper arrived in Pearl Harbor where she spent a month before heading on for Japan . She arrived at Sasebo , Japan , on 24 February and conducted operations through most of the year . During the period from May through July , " Waxwing " observed and supported Japanese sweeping operations codenamed " Guinea Pig . " " Waxwing " sailed for home on 6 December and reached San Francisco , California , on Christmas Day 1946 . She spent the next several months preparing for inactivation , was decommissioned on 12 May 1947 , and placed in the Pacific Reserve Fleet . Korean War . Following the outbreak of Korean War hostilities , the vessel was reactivated and recommissioned on 19 March 1952 at San Diego , California . From May to November , the ship conducted type training between Long Beach , California , and San Diego , California . On 1 December 1952 , " Waxwing " sailed for the Far East . Her minesweeping duties took her to both coasts of Korea and were broken by periods of rest and upkeep in Sasebo and Yokosuka , Japan . These operations continued until 9 June 1953 when the ship sailed for home . She reached Long Beach , California , on 8 July 1953 . Pacific Fleet . From 20 August to 28 October 1953 , " Waxwing " underwent an overhaul at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard followed by refresher training , type training , and independent ship exercises until 10 February 1954 . The ship celebrated Washington ' s Birthday at San Francisco , California , then spent the remainder of February and half of March engaged in " Pactraex 54R " , a full scale invasion exercise conducted in the Santa Cruz Channel and the coastal area from Santa Cruz to Long Beach , California , which utilized nearly all types of ships and aircraft . The ship then prepared for Far East deployment . On 18 April 1954 , " Waxwing " departed Long Beach , bound for Sasebo , Japan . After reaching the Orient , she patrolled the Korean coasts . During August , " Waxwing " enjoyed a rest and recreation visit to Hong Kong . She then engaged in an air - sea rescue mission taking her 200 miles south of Japan where she aided in salvaging a downed United States Air Force plane and returned with six of its survivors on board . " Waxwing " completed her tour of duty in the Far East on 3 November 1954 ; departed Sasebo bound for home ; and arrived at Long Beach on 24 November . Shortly after returning , the minesweeper served as a salvage ship for divers examining the wreckage of an experimental jet plane that had crashed off Laguna Beach , California . Her work at Laguna won the ship a letter of commendation . In the latter half of March 1955 , " Waxwing " took part in " Pactraex 55P " , a full dress , combined Navy - Marine " invasion " at San Simeon , California . The ship then proceeded to San Diego and underwent three weeks of intensive training under simulated battle conditions followed by a visit to Astoria , Oregon , from 18 to 29 August for participation in the sesquicentennial celebration of the arrival of the Lewis and Clark Expedition at the mouth of the Columbia River . For the remainder of the year and through February 1956 , " Waxwing " conducted local operations along the California coast . In 1955 , " Waxwing " was re - designated as a fleet minesweeper , MSF - 389 . On 1 March 1956 , " Waxwing " set course for the western Pacific Ocean as part of the U . S . 7th Fleet force in Sasebo , Japan . After four months of operations and training in Japan , Korea , and Taiwan , the minesweeper began an extended cruise that touched many ports in the East Indies , Australia , and the South Pacific Ocean . She returned to Long Beach , California , on 9 October 1956 and prepared to become part of the " mothball " fleet at Astoria , Oregon . Decommissioning and transfer . On 15 January 1957 , " Waxwing " arrived at Astoria and was placed in commission in reserve with inactivation scheduled to be completed by May 1957 . While laid up in reserve , " Waxwing " was modified to become an anti - submarine escort ship ; and she was transferred to the Republic of China on 14 October 1965 and served the Republic of China Navy as " Chu Yung " ( PCE - 67 ) .