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Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal(2),Combat Action Ribbon(2),Meritorious Unit Commendation(2),Navy
Unit Commendation(1),Navy E Ribbon (3),Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation(1) and Vietnam Service Medal(5).
The second Inflict (AM-456) was launched 16 October 1953 by Wilmington Boat Works, Inc., Wilmington,
Calif.; sponsored by Mrs. Robert E. Carlson; and commissioned 11 May 1954, Lt. G. T. Ragon in command.
After shakedown along the West Coast, Inflict engaged in sonar and minesweeping exercises until
she departed Long Beach 1 July for the western Pacific. Arriving Yokosuka, Japan 5 August she began operations with the navies
of South Korea, Nationalist China, and Japan, In February 1955 she was reclassified MSO 456. Inflict returned to Long Beach
17 February 1956 and spent the remainder of the year on training operations.
During 1957 Inflict continued operations off California and Mexico, helping to maintain one of America's
mighty antisubmarine warfare forces. The minesweeper sailed 3 January 1958 for duty in the Far East. She arrived there as
a crisis loomed in Indonesia. The strength of this mighty armada made itself felt as the crisis diminished quickly without
incident.
During her tour Inflict participated in joint exercises with the Philippine, Thailand, and Chinese
Nationalist navies before returning to Long Beach 15 July.
For the next 20 months she remained in California waters constantly training to keep at peak readiness.
Inflict sailed 3 May 1960 for joint operations with our Asian allies, remaining there for the next 6 months as a symbol of
joint naval co-operation for security of the Free World. She resumed to Long Beach 16 November. During 1961, Inflict was engaged
in minesweeping operations and midshipman training out of Long Beach. She sailed 7 April 1962 for exercises in Hawaiian waters,
returning to Long Beach 17 August. In 1963, in addition to her training in California waters, Inflict sailed 28 October for
joint countermeasure exercises with Canada. Returning to Long Beach 3 December she resumed operations out of Long Beach until
22 May 1964 when she sailed for duty in the Far East. Inflict again operated with the friendly navies of Asia, and during
the summer was deployed for service along South Vietnam, as our support of that embattled republic was increased to assist
its struggle against aggression. Inflict returned to Long Beach 7 December.
She sailed for the Far East 7 February 1966. Arriving Subic Bay 28 March, she headed for her "Market
Time" station 5 April and remained on patrol preventing the infiltration of arms and men from North Vietnam to the south.
Except for brief interludes, she continued this important duty until she left the war zone 1 November and returned to Long
Beach 13 December.
MINDIV 71
Five vessels included: Engage, Force, Fortify, Impervious, and Inflict.
MINDIV 71 was formed after the 5 went through a "FRAM" at Dillingham Shipyards
in Honolulu (1967 thru 1970). There they were gone through and the GMC 6-71s diesels were replaced with Waukesha diesels.
The old sonar replaced with the AN/SQQ 14 system, and all deck weapons were deleted (with the exception of .50 caliber MGs),
also new evaps (we had all the fresh water we ever wanted.) Inflict had 2 minor fires during sea trials. I think
all of them had several minor fires. . .
The first fire was in the Electricians' Shack (port side below the storekeeper's office,) that was
the very first day at sea after the rebuild. The second fire was several weeks later during our second time at sea when
the insulating material around the exhaust stacks caught fire in the after engine room. Both were minor and quickly
extinguished
The crews were in barracks on Hickam AFB, near the backgate from Hickam to Pearl Harbor (while the
ships were in reconstruction).
John Hutchison
1977
In our exchange, Exploit went to Perth Amboy, and Inflict changed homeport to Little Creek. Fred Bianco was
the CO involved in the swap with me. At the time the engineering plants were Packards, Waukesha, and General Motors.
You could probably get more info going to the Surflant PAO and extracting info from their archives. At the time all
the east coast MSOs were in Mineron Twelve, who reported to Surflant. 12 was in Charleston.
Essentially on the day of mutual change of command, crews cross decked to the other ship.
This took place in Little Creek. We tried to get volunteer crew swaps among the engineers (so people could get
back to their original homeport if at all possible) rather than stay with the ship. Principally this was the Enginemen,
with specific engine backgrounds.
Mike Borns Captain U.S.N. Ret.
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