USS Motive ( AM - 102 ) USS " Motive " ( AM - 102 ) was an built for the United States Navy during World War II . She earned three battle star s for World War II service . She was decommissioned in 1946 and placed in reserve where she remained until struck from the Naval Vessel Register in December 1966 . She was sunk as a target in April 1968 . Career . " Motive " was laid down on 14 April 1942 by the General Engineering & Dry Dock Company of Alameda , California ; launched on 17 August 1942 ; and commissioned on 17 April 1943 , Lt . Comdr . Joseph G . Enzensperger , Jr . , USNR , in command . After shakedown , " Motive " got underway from San Francisco , California , 5 June 1943 and arrived Dutch Harbor , Unalaska Island , on 14 June . She made one round trip back to Alameda , California as a convoy escort from 26 June to 14 August " Motive " then operated continuously in the Aleutian Islands for the next four months as convoy escort and anti - submarine patrol . On 13 October , while anchored in Massacre Bay , Attu Island , " Motive " was attacked by about ten Japanese aircraft making a fast high level attack . She received six near misses from 100 pound bombs but no damage , and drove the enemy planes off with gunfire . " Motive " sailed for Pearl Harbor on 1 December , and on 22 January 1944 sailed for Kwajalein , where she conducted minesweeping and antisubmarine operations until 14 February , when she departed for Pearl Harbor and repairs in California . Returning to Pearl Harbor on 22 May , she joined TF 52 for the capture of Saipan , whose assault began on 15 June . " Motive " , in TG 52 . 9 , the demonstration group , participated in the dawn feint on the beaches north of Tanapag town , while the actual landings were taking place at Charan Kanoa . On patrol as antisubmarine and screening vessel , " Motive " fired on Japanese aircraft on 16 , 17 , and 18 June , and was strafed by a Zero on 17 June , receiving a number of hits which were quickly repaired . " Motive " left Saipan for Eniwetok on 24 June , returning 9 July . She then conducted sweeping operations off the east coast of Saipan and undertook antisubmarine patrols . From 24 July until November " Motive " served as a convoy escort , antisubmarine patrol and screening ship , operating out of Saipan , Eniwetok , Guam , and Ulithi . While at Ulithi with a convoy on 20 November , " Motive " observed the torpedoing of which broke into flame . The convoy got underway for Guam without further incident . For the next five months " Motive " served on convoy escort antisubmarine , and screening patrols and hydrographic surveys out of Peleliu , Palaus ; Guam ; Eniwetok ; Saipan ; and Iwo Jima . On 25 April 1945 " Motive " headed back for the west coast , touching at Pearl Harbor and San Francisco , California , before arriving 24 May at Seattle , Washington , for overhaul . As the war in the Pacific ended , " Motive " left Seattle , Washington , 4 September for Sasebo , Japan , arriving 20 October . From 28 October to 25 November she swept for mines in the East China Sea , locating and destroying a total of 31 . On 28 November " Motive " moored in Keelung Harbor , Kurun , Taiwan , and on 7 December went into drydock at Shanghai . She returned to Sasebo 21 December . " Motive " departed Sasebo , Japan , on 1 January 1946 for the U . S . West Coast , and was decommissioned and placed in reserve at San Diego , California , 15 June 1946 . " Motive " received three battle stars for World War II service . Although she remained inactive , " Motive " was reclassified as " MSF - 102 " on 7 February 1955 . She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 December 1966 and destroyed as a target by the Pacific Fleet in April 1968 .