USS Skirmish ( AM - 303 ) USS " Skirmish " ( AM - 303 ) was an built for the United States Navy during World War II . She received four battle star s during World War II . She was decommissioned in December 1945 and placed in reserve . In February 1955 , while still in reserve , her hull number was changed from " AM - 303 " to MSF - 303 , but she was not reactivated . She was transferred to the Dominican Republic in January 1965 and renamed Separación " ( BM455 ) . She was employed as a patrol vessel in Dominican Navy service and renamed Prestol Botello in 1976 . Her pennant number was changed from " BM454 " to C454 " during a 1995 refit . , " Prestol Botello " remained in active service for the Dominican Navy . U . S . Navy service . " Skirmish " was laid down on 8 April 1943 by Associated Shipbuilders of Harbor Island , Seattle , Washington ; launched on 16 August 1943 ; and commissioned on 30 June 1944 , Lt . Bruce M . Hyatt , USNR , in command . After completing fitting out and trials in the Seattle area and shakedown and anti - submarine warfare training out of San Pedro , California , and San Diego , California , respectively , " Skirmish " departed the west coast on 2 September 1944 . The minesweeper escorted a convoy to Pearl Harbor , Hawaii , arriving on 9 September . After 20 days of minesweeping and antisubmarine drills in the Hawaiian Islands , " Skirmish " stood out of Pearl Harbor to escort USS Boreas ( AF - 8 ) to Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands . The two ships arrived on 12 October , and " Skirmish " departed the next day to return to Pearl Harbor . Upon her return , on 20 October , she resumed training exercise around Oahu until 3 November when she formed up with a San Francisco - bound convoy . She stayed in San Francisco for a week from 14 to 21 November , visited Los Angeles , California , from the 21st to the 23d , and returned to Pearl Harbor on 3 December . On 12 December , Comdr . L . F . Freeburghouse broke his pennant in " Skirmish " , and she became the flagship of the Commander , Mine Squadron 12 . Following a yard overhaul and more exercises " Skirmish " departed the Hawaiian Islands on 22 January 1945 in the screen of another Eniwetok - bound convoy , arriving on 4 February . This time she did not return to Pearl Harbor . Instead , she departed Eniwetok the next day in company with a large contingent of landing craft , escort ships , and minesweepers . Sailing by way of Saipan and Tinian in the Marianas , " Skirmish " arrived off Iwo Jima , in the Volcano Islands , on 16 February . For the next three days , she and the other minesweepers conducted sweeps . Then , after the assault on 19 February , she remained in the area on the " ping line " to give advanced warning of air attack or submarines . On 8 March , she cleared Iwo Jima for Ulithi Atoll in the Carolines , arriving on 10 March and remaining until the 19th . On 25 March , " Skirmish " arrived off Okinawa , the major island of the Ryukyus , and commenced sweeping the waters around the island . During the evening of the following day , an enemy " Betty " swooped in on her port side , firing as it closed . Up went the cry , " Action to port , " as all guns blazed away at the intruder . As the twin - engine bomber passed over her bow , " Skirmish ' s " fusillade ripped into its engines , causing a storm of parts to rain down on her forecastle deck . The " Betty " continued across the bow and splashed to starboard . The minesweeper continued to patrol and sweep around Okinawa until 8 July , putting into port periodically at either Buckner Bay or Kerama Retto . From 26 March on , action was not so close as on that date , but " Skirmish ' s " crew continued to fight off air attacks and sweep mines . She suffered her only casualty of the war at Okinawa on 2 April , when a dud crashed into a 20 millimeter gun mount , demolishing it and killing one sailor . On 8 July , " Skirmish " sailed from Okinawa for San Pedro Bay area of Leyte Gulf . She was still at Leyte on 10 August when the news of the Japanese surrender offer came . The whole bay exploded into one gigantic 4th - of - July celebration - searchlights blazing , sirens screaming and fireworks going off everywhere . By the 18th , everyone settled down with the realization that there was much to be done in spite of the cessation of hostilities . Accordingly , " Skirmish " got underway with the other minesweepers on 18 August to return to Buckner Bay . She stayed at Okinawa for a week and a day , from 22 to 30 August , then departed to sweep the Yellow Sea in support of the Korea occupation forces . From 1 to 7 September , she swept in the area of the Korean coast then headed for Sasebo , Japan , where she swept the approaches to Sasebo and Nagasaki . During the ensuing three months she continued operations around Kyūshū , departing that area once to sweep a shallow field in the Tsushima Strait . On 11 December , " Skirmish " hoisted her homeward bound pennant and led Mine Squadron 12 in review before Rear Admiral Struble , Commander , Minecraft Pacific Fleet . As they sailed out of Sasebo , the ships assembled in the harbor rendered honors , and the crews of two cruisers , USS Boston ( CL - 69 ) and USS Oklahoma City ( CL - 90 ) were paraded in dress blues . Upon arrival in the United States later in December , " Skirmish " was placed out of commission , in reserve , and berthed at Orange , Texas . She remained there for the next 19 years . She was redesignated " MSF - 303 " on 11 February 1955 and declared excess to the needs of the Navy in January 1965 . Her name was struck from the Navy list on January 1965 , and she was sold to the Dominican Republic on 14 January , under the terms of the Military Assistance Program . Awards . " Skirmish " earned four battle stars for World War II service . Dominican Navy service . The former " Skirmish " was acquired by the Dominican Republic on 14 January 1965 and renamed " Separación " ( BM454 ) . Employed as a patrol vessel in Dominican Navy service , she was renamed " Prestol Botello " in 1976 . During a 1995 refit , her pennant number was changed to " C454 " in 1995 . , " Prestol Botello " was in active service with the Dominican Navy .