USS Sentry ( AM - 299 ) USS " Sentry " ( AM - 299 ) was an built for the United States Navy during World War II . She served in the Pacific Ocean and was awarded six battle stars , a Navy Unit Commendation , and a Presidential Unit Citation . She was decommissioned and placed in reserve in 1946 . In August 1962 , the former " Sentry " was transferred to South Vietnam as RVNS " Ky Hoa " ( HQ - 09 ) in the Republic of Vietnam Navy . Her fate after 1962 is unreported in secondary source s . U . S . Navy career . " Sentry " was laid down on 16 May 1943 by the Winslow Marine Railway and Shipbuilding Co . , Seattle , Washington ; launched on 15 August 1943 sponsored by Miss Nanette L . Pratt , and commissioned on 30 May 1944 , Lt . Thomas R . Fonick in command . After shakedown , " Sentry " sailed from San Francisco , California , on 28 August 1944 and joined the U . S . 7th Fleet at Manus on 6 October for the Leyte invasion . She arrived off the Leyte beaches on 17 October and carried out a three - day pre - invasion sweep . She continued sweeping during and after the initial landings on 20 October until joining the transports on 24 October to provide antiaircraft support . " Sentry " remained in Leyte Gulf for the next six weeks then participated in most of the subsequent landings in the Philippines . With her division , Mine Division 34 she carried out pre - invasion sweeps at Ormoc Bay on 6 December 1944 , Mindoro Island on 14 December Lingayen Gulf on 6 January 1945 , and Zambales and Subic Bay on 29 – 31 January . For all but the Ormoc landings , she remained on the scene after the initial troop landings , helping extend the mineswept areas and providing antisubmarine and antiaircraft protection to the transports . Few mines were encountered , but kamikaze resistance was intense , and the ships saw much antiaircraft action . On 13 February , " Sentry " and her division began pre - invasion sweeps in Manila Bay in preparation for the landings at Mariveles and Corregidor . While sweeping off Corregidor on the 14th , the minesweepers came within 5 , 000 yards of the island and were repeatedly straddled by Japanese fire before supporting ships silenced the enemy ' s guns . " Sentry " continued sweeping in Manila Bay through 19 February , and her division earned a Navy Unit Commendation for the operation . During the next two and one - half months , " Sentry " carried out various local sweeps in support of mop - up operations in the Philippines , the most notable being a pre - assault sweep for the landings at Legaspi , Luzon on 1 April , and an 8 - day sweep in the Sulu Sea off Palawan beginning on 22 April . On 9 May , the ship arrived at Morotai to prepare for operations in the Netherlands East Indies . Between 7 and 18 June , " Sentry " supported the landings at Brunei Bay , Borneo ; and , between 22 June and 15 July , she helped clear the way for the assault at Balikpapan . During both operations , the minesweepers came under fire from shore batteries ; and one ship , , was sunk by a mine on 8 June . " Sentry ' s " task unit received a Presidential Unit Citation for its service off Borneo between 15 June and 1 July 1945 . After overhaul at Subic Bay , " Sentry " departed the Philippines on 8 September and arrived at Sasebo Japan , on 20 October , having accepted the surrender of the Japanese army garrison of Shan Zaki in the Ryukyus while en route . In the following weeks , she swept Japanese minefields in the Ryukyus , the Tsushima Strait , and the Van Diemen Strait . She sailed from Sasebo on 9 December for the United States . Arriving at Orange , Texas , on 2 April 1946 , she was decommissioned there on 19 June 1946 and placed in reserve . In addition to her six battle stars for World War II service , " Sentry " was also awarded a Navy Unit Commendation and a Presidential Unit Citation . While she remained in reserve , " Sentry " s classification was changed to MSF - 299 , effective 7 February 1955 . " Sentry " was struck from the Navy list on 1 February 1962 and transferred to South Vietnam on 31 August 1962 . Republic of Vietnam Navy career . The former " Sentry " was transferred to South Vietnam ' s navy , the Republic of Vietnam Navy , on 31 August 1962 as RVNS " Ky Hoa " ( HQ - 09 ) . Her fate after that date is unreported in secondary source s .