USS Dextrous ( AM - 341 ) USS " Dextrous " ( AM - 341 ) 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 . The ship was laid down by the Gulf Shipbuilding Corp . , Chickasaw , Alabama as HMS " Sepoy " ( BAM - 30 ) , renamed and reclassified USS " Dextrous " ( AM - 341 ) , and launched on 17 June 1943 ; sponsored by Miss S . S . Kenney ; and commissioned 8 September 1943 , Lieutenant Commander S . S . Trotman in command . Service history . World War II . " Dextrous " sailed from Norfolk , Virginia , 14 November 1943 as a convoy escort , arriving at Bizerte , Tunisia , 3 January 1944 . Ten days later she sailed for Naples , Italy , to sweep in the Gulf of Salerno . On 21 January she left Naples for the Anzio - Nettuno beachhead where she swept mines prior to the assault the next day , and patrolled and provided anti - aircraft fire during the bitter fighting ashore . Except for two voyages to Bizerte to replenish , " Dextrous " served off Anzio until 12 August 1944 when she sailed from Naples for pre - invasion minesweeping off the southern coast of France . She swept and patrolled there until 1 October when she put in to Bizerte . Escorting a convoy of LST s , she returned to Norfolk , Virginia , 11 December for overhaul . " Dextrous " sailed from Norfolk , Virginia , 15 February 1945 for the Pacific Ocean , arriving at Pearl Harbor 18 March . She aided in the training of submarines in the Hawaiian Islands until 23 May , when she sailed west . After calling at Guam to remove some experimental gear , she reached Okinawa on 14 July to join the minesweeping operations coordinated with the U . S . 3rd Fleet ' s final raids on Japan . After the war " Dextrous " remained in the Far East , clearing minefields in Japanese waters until 15 January 1946 when she sailed from Sasebo , Japan , for the U . S . West Coast . She arrived at San Pedro , California , 22 February and was placed out of commission in reserve 5 June 1946 . Korean War . Recommissioned 1 December 1950 for service in the Korean War , " Dextrous " made her first Far Eastern cruise from 3 March 1951 to 28 February 1952 . She patrolled and swept on both coasts of Korea . Often under fire from shore batteries which hit her three times , " Dextrous " captured two sampans and five prisoners - of - war . She returned to Korean waters for similar duty from 1 December 1952 to 3 July 1953 . Post - war operations . Following the cease fire in Korea " Dextrous " made cruises to the western Pacific in 1954 and 1955 - 56 during which she patrolled off Korea , and participated in various exercises with the Fleet . Alternating with this duty were local exercises out of her home port at Long Beach , California , and a cruise along the west coast to San Francisco , California , and Seattle , Washington , in the summer of 1955 . " Dextrous " was again placed out of commission in reserve on 31 October 1956 . She was reclassified MSF - 341 , 7 February 1955 . In December 1967 the ship was transferred to South Korea where she served as ROKS " Koje " ( PCE - 1003 ) . Awards . " Dextrous " received five battle star s for World War II service and five for Korean War service .