USS Quest ( AM - 281 ) USS " Quest " ( AM - 281 ) was an built for the United States Navy during World War II . She was decommissioned in 1947 after wartime service and transferred to the Philippine Navy in 1948 where she served as presidential yacht RPS " Pag - asa " ( APO - 21 ) . In 1955 , she was renamed Santa Maria and , later , " Mount Samat " ( TK - 21 ) , serving as a patrol corvette of the . She was decommissioned from the Philippine Navy in 1970 ; beyond that , her fate is not reported in secondary source s . Career . " Quest " was laid down 24 November 1943 by Gulf Shipbuilding Co . , Chickasaw , Alabama ; launched 16 March 1944 ; sponsored by Mrs . O . R . Johnson , and commissioned 25 October 1944 , Lt . J . T . Riley , Jr . , USNR in command . After fitting out , training , and shakedown exercises , " Quest " sailed for Portland , Maine , 21 December to report for duty with task group CTG 23 . 9 . Upon arriving at Portland , the minesweeper participated in antisubmarine exercises until departing for Norfolk , Virginia , 29 December . Arriving 31 December , she remained there until 4 January 1945 , when she departed for the Panama Canal Zone en route to the Pacific Fleet . During her voyage to the Panama Canal Zone , she served as convoy escort to repair ship and oiler . Arriving at San Diego , California , 24 January , " Quest " conducted exercises along the U . S . West Coast until 1 March , when she became the school ship at the Naval Small Craft Training Center , San Pedro , California . Relieved of this duty 24 March , she sailed for San Diego to take up target towing duties until late April , when she returned to San Pedro to once again resume her training ship duties . Detached from this duty 20 August , she sailed for Pearl Harbor , arriving 28 August . Departing Pearl Harbor 3 September , as part of task unit TU 10 . 15 . 16 , she sailed for Eniwetok Atoll . She then sailed to Okinawa , via Saipan , arriving 3 October . " Quest " participated in minesweeping operations in and around Okinawa and Southern Japan until 5 November when she sailed for the East China Sea in company with , and . After clearing minefields in the area , the minesweeper returned to Sasebo , Japan arriving in late November . " Quest " participated in minesweeping operations in Japan until 20 February 1946 , when she began a voyage to Eniwetok Atoll , acting as escort for and . Arriving at Eniwetok 12 March , " Quest " served as a logistics support vessel for the two YMSs as they swept mines around Eniwetok in preparation for nuclear testing under Operation Crossroads . On 23 March " Quest " , in company with sailed for Subic Bay arriving 11 April . She remained there until 2 May , at which time she was decommissioned . Struck from the U . S . Naval Vessel Register 29 September 1947 , " Quest " was not yet through with her naval service , for on 2 July 1948 , she was transferred to the Philippines . Converted to the Presidential yacht she was designated APO - 21 and commissioned later that year . She was renamed " Pag - asa " , and has served under the names " Santa Maria " and " Mount Samat " . She was decommissioned from the Philippine Navy in 1970 ; her ultimate fate is not reported in secondary source s . Honors and awards . As USS " Quest " , the ship was awarded two battle stars for her World War II service .