USS Token ( AM - 126 ) USS " Token " ( AM - 126 ) 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 . " Token " was laid down on 21 July 1941 at Chickasaw , Alabama , by the Gulf Shipbuilding Corporation ; launched on 28 March 1942 ; sponsored by Mrs . Charles Hunt Ross ; and commissioned on 31 December 1942 , with Lt . Comdr . William H . Harrison , USNR , in command . World War II Pacific Theatre operations . After shakedown cruises off the Florida coast and in the Gulf of Mexico , the new minesweeper steamed from Miami on 2 April 1943 ; transited the Panama Canal ; and arrived at San Francisco on 1 May . Following training and escort duty in western coastal waters , she departed San Francisco on 28 August for the New Hebrides . From October until the following June , " Token " escorted convoys between Espiritu Santo and Guadalcanal . Late in June , she proceeded via Florida Island to Sydney , Australia . A severe vibration developed en route , and " Token ' s " stay in Sydney was prolonged for the replacement of bent and damaged propeller blades . She departed Sydney on 30 July 1944 and proceeded to the Solomons , where she spent the month of August conducting exercises and undergoing additional repairs . Leyte Gulf minesweeping . In September , " Token " engaged in minesweeping in the Palau and Ulithi groups before proceeding to Manus where the U . S . 7th Fleet was concentrating for the invasion of Leyte . On 17 October , while conducting minesweeping operations en route to Leyte , " Token " was caught in a typhoon which caused her some minor damage . Following two days of minesweeping in Leyte Gulf , " Token " anchored in the south transport area off Leyte on 24 October . The next day , " Token " scored several hits on an enemy aircraft and rescued a downed flier from . Heavy air activity continued until " Token " got underway for the Admiralties arriving at Manus on 5 November . Overhaul in the States . " Token " steamed from Manus on 14 November and proceeded via Pearl Harbor and San Francisco , California to Portland , Oregon , where she underwent major overhaul . On 13 April , " Token " departed the U . S . West Coast for Pearl Harbor where she resumed escort duty . Final Pacific Theatre operations . Arriving off Okinawa on 20 May 1945 , at a time of mass kamikaze attacks , " Token " experienced her first of many days of enemy air activity . While performing screening activities on 28 May , " Token " rescued and captured two survivors from a splashed Japanese aircraft . After repairs at Kerama Retto in June , she swept waters off Okinawa , in the East China Sea , and in Tokyo Bay . " Token " was the second surface vessel to enter Tokyo Bay , on 2 September 1945 , following the , to sweep the harbor prior to the entering and the signing of the surrender document by Japan . Chief Montgomery stated that the " Token " came alongside the USS " Missouri " on the morning of 2 September 1945 and took on a load of fresh water before heading to Tokyo Harbor . The " Token " and the " Revenge " then raced to see which ship could enter the harbor first . But the " Token " received a message from Admiral Halsey ' s staff to back off and let the " Revenge " enter first . In the following months , " Token " continued sweeps of formerly contested waters off the Pescadores and China before steaming – via Sasebo , Kyūshū , and Pearl Harbor – to Charleston , South Carolina . First decommissioning . She then operated off the east coast of the United States until finally berthing in June 1947 at Orange , Texas , where she was assigned to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet , Texas Group , and placed out of commission on 6 January 1948 . Atlantic Ocean operations . Recommissioned on 12 April 1951 , " Token " participated in training exercises off Charleston , South Carolina , in company with Mine Squadron 8 , Mine Force , Atlantic Fleet . Departing from Charleston in August , " Token " headed for the Mediterranean and touched at Gibraltar , Istanbul , Naples , Italy , and Seville before returning to Charleston on 7 February 1953 . Final decommissioning . She operated off the $ 3 and U . S . Gulf Coasts before being inactivated and decommissioned again on 16 April 1954 . " Token " was reclassified a steel - hulled fleet minesweeper on 7 February 1955 and redesignated MSF - 126 . Her name was struck from the Navy list on 1 December 1966 . Awards . " Token " received four battle stars during her participation in World War II .