USS Herald ( AM - 101 ) USS " Herald " ( AM - 101 ) 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 . " Herald " was named after the word " herald " , which means " a bearer of news " . " Herald " was the second of two U . S . Navy ships named the " Herald " , was a steel - hulled diesel - powered minesweeper launched by General Engineering & Dry Dock Co . , Alameda , California , on 4 July 1942 ; and commissioned on 23 March 1943 , Comdr . D . B . Poupeney in command . World War II North Pacific operations . Following her shakedown training off the California coast , " Herald " got underway on 16 May 1943 for Dutch Harbor , Alaska , where she took part in patrols and was present for the unopposed landing on Kiska Island on 15 August . The ship resumed her patrol and escort duties ; but , after suffering severe damage in a storm on 6 November 1943 returned to Seattle , Washington on 10 December for repairs . World War II South Pacific operations . The minesweeper returned to duty on 12 February 1944 , sailing to Pearl Harbor on the 22nd . After two convoy voyages to the Marshalls , she got underway on 30 May to join the fleet at Eniwetok for one of the most important amphibious operations of the war , the invasion of the Marianas . " Herald " arrived off Saipan on D - day , 15 June , and performed minesweeping and escort duties . While the U . S . fleet won a great victory at the Battle of the Philippine Sea 19 to 21 June , the minesweeper protected the transport and fueling areas off Saipan . She sailed to Tarawa on 17 July to escort a group of LST ' s back to Pearl Harbor , where she arrived 26 July . In the months that followed , " Herald " performed vital convoy work in the Marshalls and Marianas , including patrol and some minesweeping work . In early 1945 she served as an escort ship for submarines returning to Ulithi from war patrols . " Herald " sailed from Pearl Harbor for the United States on 11 May 1945 , arriving San Francisco , California , seven days later . Post - World War II operations . At San Francisco , California at war ' s end , the minesweeper sailed on 1 September 1945 to take part in the giant sweeping operations necessary for rapid and safe occupation of the former Japanese islands . Arriving Sasebo , Japan , 26 October , " Herald " operated in the South China Sea until departing on 15 January 1946 for the United States . Arriving San Diego , California , on 17 February after stops at Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor , " Herald " was decommissioned on 31 May 1946 and was placed in reserve . " Herald " received two battle stars for World War II service . Second commission . " Herald " was recommissioned on 5 March 1952 at San Diego , California . " Herald " spent the remainder of the year in shakedown training and minesweeping drills on the east coast of the United States . Operating out of Charleston , South Carolina , the ship made two cruises to the Mediterranean in the spring of 1953 and the summer of 1954 , strengthening the U . S . 6th Fleet in that troubled region . " Herald " continued to take part in fleet maneuvers and training off the U . S . East Coast and in the Caribbean until arriving Jacksonville , Florida , 10 February 1955 . Decommissioning and sale . " Herald " decommissioned at Green Cove Springs on 15 April 1955 and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet , berthed at Orange , Texas . She was reclassified MSF - 101 , on 7 February 1955 . Struck from the Naval Register on 1 July 1972 , the ship was sold to Mexico on 1 February 1973 , to serve as ARM " Mariano Matamoros " . Fate unknown .