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3 UNIT AWARDS AND CITATIONS
ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL (2)and NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION (1).
Sagacity (AM-469) was laid down on 6 October 1952 by the Luders Marine Construction
Co., Stamford Conn.; launched on 20 February 1954; sponsored by Mrs. Loretta B. McCue, and commissioned on 20 January 1955
Lt. H. M. Berry in command.
Redesignated MSO-469 on 7 February, Sagacity completed shakedown training in
May, then took up local operations out of her home port, Charleston, S.C. Assigned to Mine Division (MinDiv) 84, she conducted
her first eastern Atlantic-Mediterranean deployment in the fall of 1956. The four-month deployment was followed by a return
to minesweeping exercises in the Caribbean and off the Carolina and Florida coasts.
Biennially deployed to the Mediterranean for duty with the 6th Fleet from that time
until 1967, she was employed on projects for the Naval Mine Warfare School at Charleston, the Mine Defense Laboratory at Panama
City, and the Naval Ordnance Test Facility at Fort Lauderdale during her 2d Fleet duty. Occasionally assigned to planeguard
duty for helicopters from amphibious assault ships, target towing, and to patrol duties, she was also a unit of the Project
Mercury recovery force in January 1962.
In January 1968, Sagacity steamed east for her last tour with the 6th Fleet,
spending most of her time in the western Mediterranean. She returned to Charleston in June; and, until March 1970, operated
off the east coast. In March 1970, she grounded at the entrance to Charleston harbor, causing extensive damage to her rudders,
shafts, screws, keel, and hull.
Five months later, as the Navy continued its force level reduction, Sagacity
was ordered inactivated She was decommissioned and struck from the Navy list on 1 October 1970.
USS Sagacity was commissioned on January 14th 1955; Lt. H.M. Berry was commanding officer. I was
RM3, made RM2 May 1955. reenlisted later that year. Ship was commissioned in Brooklyn Navy Yard, conducted operations
off Block Island; performed shakedown in Key West, Florida in Spring 1955, visited Havana, Cuba about April 1955. Other than
local operations there were no significant cruises while I was on board.
I later returned to USS Vigor, then
to USS Observer as RM1, where I served until November 1956. I returned to USS Fearless MSO 442 in 1965 as executive
officer, and made LT while serving on board. I left Fearless in the summer of 1968 for two years on COMINPAC staff.
Travis
Short. LCDR Ret.
I reported aboard the Sagacity straight out of boot camp, waiting for an opening in "A"- School.
Little did I realize the lessons for life that I would learn and carry with me even today. When I arrived in Charleston and
reported to the Naval Station I could not understand the humor directed at me when the duty officer saw my orders to the Sagacity.
As she was in the shipyard, Dentons' I believe, I had to wait for someone to pick me up from the ship. When I did report aboard
I was in awe at the size of this U.S.Navy warship. Oh she looked good, all that gray paint and bright brass. Curious though
how the deck seemed to move around so much. I guess that's just the way a ship is supposed to be, or so I thought. And what
a strange smell. It seemed like it was everywhere, kerosene, or as I later found out, fuel oil. It didn't take long to get
to know the guys I would be working with, as there were so few of them. Eventually we completed repairs and went out for sea
trials. Being as it was now October, the Atlantic was not the nicest pond to be on in your dinghie. I learned real soon that
death was a viable option to acquiring "sea-legs". I think I lasted about six hours into the trials until I lost it. Funny
thing though, I didn't die and eventually I started to enjoy going to sea on that " thing".
For Thanksgiving we made a trip to Ft. Lauderdale, mainly because the CO had his home there.
OK by me, what did I care, I was just a kid looking to see the world. Had a good time there but it ended too soon and we returned
to Charleston. As we were fresh from the yards we had to go through the trials and competition for the division awards. We
managed to win the battle efficiency E, which made a nice addition to my uniform.
Found out all about "mess cook". Started in the scullery, moved to the mess decks and graduated
to the galley. It was here that they found out I had a flair for cooking and the supply officer and lead cook tried to bribe
me into staying aboard and changing my rate from fireman to seaman/cook striker. No dice, the Navy promised to teach me all
about being an electrician and by God I was determined to learn.
Before I knew it, it was time to pack my gear and head to the Lakes for school. Only after I
left the ship did I appreciate what a special tour of duty that was, giving me a chance to learn Navy life from a very different
group of men and aboard very different ship. I am sure there were many guys who got bored to tears by some of my stories about
those eight months, but they were special to me. I did enjoy going to "A"-School and wearing my ships' patch and the "E".
It was strange too how that brief tour changed me. I was more confident of myself and more assertive in my actions.
Only recently did I learn of her untimely demise and ignominous end. She served her country
well when called on and I am proud to have spent time, sweat and blood on her.
Paul A. Ulishney EM-FA
U.S.S. Sagacity MSO-469
October 1964 to April 1965
From:Navy Minesweeper History Archive-Chain Locker
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