USS James M . Gilliss ( AMCU - 13 ) USS " James M . Gilliss " ( AMCU - 13 / YMS - 262 ) was a acquired by the U . S . Navy for the task of removing mines that had been placed in the water to prevent ships from passing . Operational history . " YMS - 262 " was laid down by the South Coast Co . , Newport Beach , California , 6 September 1942 ; launched 24 December 1942 ; and commissioned 15 September 1943 , Lt . Thomas W . Burns in command . World War II service . After shakedown off the coast of California , " YMS - 262 " conducted minesweeping exercises out of San Pedro , California , during the remainder of the year . Departing San Diego 5 January 1944 , she reached Nawiliwili Harbor , Hawaii , 17 January and there joined units of Rear Admiral Richard L . Conolly ’ s Northern Attack Force staging for the invasion of Kwajalein , Marshalls . She sailed the 19th and closed the enemy - held atoll 31 January . Prior to initial landings off Roi - Namur , she swept a path for amphibious ships into the lagoon ; then she screened LST ' s during afternoon landings . From 1 to 9 February she operated off Roi - Namur , sweeping for mines , and carrying out hydrographic and pilotage duties . Supporting the invasion of Kwajalein . Steaming to Kwajalein Island 12 February , " YMS - 262 " joined Rear Admiral H . W . Hill ' s Eniwetok Expeditionary Group and sortied from Kwajalein Lagoon 15 February for the invasion of that strategic atoll . The assault force approached Eniwetok 17 February , and " YMS - 262 " swept the Wide Passage and lagoon for mines as the force prepared for initial landings on the northern islets off Engebi . During the remainder of the month she performed minesweeping , screening , and control duties as powerful American naval and ground forces wiped out Japanese resistance on Engebi , Eniwetok , and Parry Islands . End - of - war operations . " YMS - 262 " served at Eniwetok during mop - up operations in the Marshalls ; and she remained in the Marshalls until December when she returned to the United States . From January to April 1945 she was converted to a surveying ship at California Shipbuilding Corp . , Wilmington , California . On 23 March she was named " James M . Gilliss " and reclassified " AGS - 13 " . She steamed to Pearl Harbor in April and sailed for the Marianas the following month . Arriving Guam early in June , she underwent survey training before sailing for Okinawa late in July . She steamed via Saipan and reached Okinawa as Japanese forces in the Pacific surrendered . Supporting Bikini Atoll nuclear testing . " James M . Gilliss " served at Okinawa until November ; and , following destructive typhoons in September and October , she provided important survey work off the battered island . She sailed for Japan 1 November and for the next month supported occupation operations out of Nagoya . Departing Nagoya 4 December , she reached Pearl Harbor 6 January 1946 . After overhaul , she sailed for the Marshalls in March to support Operation Crossroads , the atomic bomb tests . Arriving Bikini Atoll 16 March , for the next 5 months she operated between Bikini and Eniwetok while conducting hydrographic , oceanographic , and other scientific surveys . Reclassified " AGSC - 13 " on 29 July , " James M . Gilliss " departed Bikini 19 August . Steaming via Pearl Harbor , she reached San Francisco , California , 30 September . Assigned to duty with the U . S . Atlantic Fleet , she departed San Francisco 23 November and arrived Norfolk , Virginia , 23 December . From March 1947 to May 1950 she operated from the North Atlantic to the Caribbean , and she participated in coastal surveys off Newfoundland , Mexico , Cuba , and Trinidad . Arriving New York 12 May 1950 , she decommissioned 22 September and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet . Converted to minehunter . Converted to a minehunter , " James M . Gilliss " reclassified " AMc ( U ) - 13 " on 18 August 1951 and recommissioned 5 September 1951 , Lt . ( j . g . ) Kenneth E . Carter in command ; Assigned to the Atlantic Mine Fleet 18 February 1952 , she operated out of New York until 20 March 1953 when she was assigned to the Mine Hunting Unit at Little Creek , Virginia . From 1953 to 1958 she operated primarily in Chesapeake Bay , conducting training exercises and testing and evaluating precise navigation equipment . In addition she operated along the Atlantic Coast from Massachusetts to North Carolina , and during November and December 1956 she trained in the Caribbean out of Guantanamo Bay , Cuba . Reclassified MHC - 13 on 1 February 1955 , she operated out of Little Creek until June 1958 when she steamed to Green Cove Springs , Florida . She decommissioned there 6 August 1958 and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet . She was struck from the Navy List 1 January 1960 , and sold to Marlene Blouse Corp . by 17 June . Awards and honors . " YMS - 262 " received one battle star for World War II service .