USS Grebe ( AM - 43 ) USS " Grebe " ( AM - 43 ) was a in the United States Navy . " Grebe " was built by the Staten Island Steam Boat Co . , was launched 17 December 1918 ; it was sponsored by Miss Emma Youmans and commissioned at the Brooklyn Navy Yard 1 May 1919 ; Lt . Niels Dustrup was in command . It served in many capacities until it was destroyed by a hurricane in 1943 . Post - World War I mine clearance . From 9 July 1919 until 1 October , " Grebe " , based at Kirkwall , Orkney , was part of a minesweeper flotilla clearing the North Sea of mines laid by the Allies during World War I . She returned to Portsmouth , New Hampshire , 28 November 1919 via Davenport , Brest , Lisbon , the Azores , Bermuda , and New York . After extensive repairs , " Grebe " moved to the Boston Navy Yard 4 November 1920 ; from there she sailed the coast from Maine to New Jersey calibrating radio compass stations and doing miscellaneous towing and rescue work . On 29 April 1921 she rescued 139 passengers from the Portuguese steamer , which had run aground off the Massachusetts coast . North Atlantic operations . " Grebe ' s " next duty took her to Newport , Rhode Island , on 2 June ; she escorted submarine in diving trials until 23 June when " G - 1 " sank in . After participating in salvage operations , " Grebe " returned to Boston , Massachusetts , on 22 July to resume radio compass station calibration and other duties . From there she made a round trip to Norfolk , Virginia , Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , and the Panama Canal Zone which occupied her from 1 December 1921 until 18 March 1922 , when she returned to Portsmouth . There she decommissioned 12 May 1922 . " Grebe " was recommissioned on 15 November 1922 , Chief Boatswain Albert C . Fraenzel commanding . On 16 December she sailed for St . Thomas , capital of the Virgin Islands , where she served as station ship until 1931 . " Grebe " made an average of a trip a week between St . Thomas , St . Croix , and San Juan carrying stores and passengers , both military and civilian ; she also towed coal barges and dredge s to San Juan , Fort de France , Martinique , and other Caribbean ports . While at St . Thomas , " Grebe " was invaluable in assisting disabled ships , mainly those grounded on coral reefs , and in searches for missing ships . This work was interrupted by a yearly five - week repair period at Charleston , South Carolina . Hurricane rescue work . " Grebe ' s " finest moment came in 1930 . A hurricane laid waste large parts of the Dominican Republic and killed thousands in September . Carrying trained medical men and emergency supplies " Grebe " was the first ship to reach devastated Santo Domingo . She remained there for two weeks , helping unload other ships and clear debris . 17 March 1931 " Grebe " brought Dr . Paul M . Pearson , Governor - appointee , and his staff from San Juan to St . Thomas ; nucleus of the Virgin Island ' s first civilian government . Towing the USS " Constitution " . " Grebe " then returned to Boston , Massachusetts . There on 12 July 1931 she took in tow historic . A long campaign had resulted in restoration of the famed ship to its original condition , and " Grebe " was to spend the next three years as her tender and towing ship as they visited every major American port , East and West Coast . Millions of Americans thrilled to their heritage touring " Old Ironsides " in New York City , Norfolk , Key West , Galveston , Guantanamo , Los Angeles , Seattle , Bellingham , Portland , and the Panama Canal Zone . Transfer to the Pacific Ocean . On 12 May 1934 " Grebe " relinquished her duties with " Constitution " , entering the Philadelphia Navy Yard for overhaul . After a brief tour of duty at Norfolk , Virginia , 21 August to 14 September , she sailed for Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , towed for fleet gunnery practice until 12 October , then sailed to San Pedro , California , arriving 19 November . Operating there until mid - 1940 ; she performed a variety of tasks , including towing for target practice , participating in fleet problems , minesweeping exercises , training squadron details , and harbor service . Her tour there was interrupted by two voyages , the first to Pearl Harbor 6 – 31 May 1935 for fleet problems and the second to Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , and Norfolk , Virginia , 26 December to 7 May 1939 for gunnery exercises . Pearl Harbor assignment . Sailing from San Pedro , California , 3 June 1940 , " Grebe " arrived in Pearl Harbor on 17 June to tow for gunnery and bombing practice , and participate in minesweeping training . Two trips back to the mainland , 1 August to 9 September and 27 September to 13 October 1941 , in company with on passenger and stores runs interrupted her Hawaiian duty . Under attack at Pearl Harbor . " Grebe " was in yard availability at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 . Her 3 - inch guns had been dismantled for the overhaul so she could fight only with rifles and pistols . She was credited with shooting down one of three unidentified planes flying low over the Navy Yard . On 24 January " Grebe " departed for Palmyra Island with fuel oil barge " YO - 43 " in tow where she arrived five days later . She returned to Honolulu on 5 February and continued from there until autumn . Her classification was changed to AT - 134 on 1 June 1941 . On 30 September " Grebe " joined a convoy for Johnston Island and returned on 9 October . On 9 November 1942 " Grebe " was underway again with lighter " YC - 737 " and " YB - 9 " in tow and accompanying " YO - 44 " , for Canton Island . Calling there on 25 November she proceeded to Pago Pago , Samoa arriving on 28 November . Run aground and broken up by a hurricane . On 6 December 1942 , " Grebe " was grounded while attempting to float at Vuata Vatoa , Fiji Islands . Salvage operations were broken up by a hurricane that destroyed both ships on 1 – 2 January 1943 . Her name was struck from the Navy List 28 July 1943 . Awards . " Grebe " earned one battle star for World War II service .