>Recruit I AM-285
Recruit I
(AM-285: dp. 945; 1. 184'6"; b. 33'0"; dr. 9'9"; s. 14 k.; cpl. 104; a. 1 3", 4 40mm., 6 20mm., 2 dcp., 1 dct., 1 dcp.(hh.); cl. Admirable)
The first Recruit (AM-285) was laid down by the General Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Alameda, Calif., 24 May 1943 launched 11 December 1943; sponsored by Miss Kathleen Merrit Jaekson; and commissioned 8 November 1944, Lt. Comdr. Chester A. Bowes in command.
Following shakedown off San Pedro, Calif., Reeruit steamed 5 January 1945 for Pearl Harbor, whence she escorted two convoys to Eniwetok. From there she proceeded with the second convoy to Ulithi, arriving 9 March.
Ten days later Recruit departed Ulithi with TG 52.5 for Okinawa. From the 24th to the 27th, she conducted elearanee sweeps south of Tokashiki Island, Kerama Retto, then shifted to Okinawa for a preinvasion sweep off the western beaches. After the invasion she operated north of Ie Shima, then returned to the Keramo Retto area.
On 6 April, off the northern tip of Okinawa Shima, Recruit fought off several aerial attacks, splashing three planes, and rescuing crewmen from Rodman (DMS 21) and Emmons (DMS-22), damaged by kamikaze planes. The rest of April was spent in conducting elearanee sweeps in the Kerama Retto and Tonachi Shima areas.
On 4 May Recruit retired hriefly to Ulithi returning to Okinawa 4 June for screening operations around the transport areas off Okinawa, then conducted antisubmarine patrol off Zampa Misaki.
On 4 July, Recruit took part in one of the largest sweeping operations ever undertaken in Pacific waters, the 50-ship sweep in the "Juneau" area of the East China Sea. Recruit swept 15 mines in this operation. In August she took part in a sweep of the "Skagway Area" of the northern East China Sea, sweeping 15 more mines
On 31 August, after Japan had capitulated, Recruit, as part of TU 95.4.31, departed Okinawa, en route to Tsugaru Strait Northern Honshu, and after sweeping a channel into Mutsu Kaiwan, moved on to Ominato Ko, anchoring there 8 September with other units of the North Pacific Force. From then until 20 October, the task group swept mines in the Tsugaru
On 20 October, Recruit, in company with TU 56.4.1, sailed for Sasebo, arriving on the 26th. On 3 November she proceeded to Hiro Wan, Honshu. Arriving 2 days later, she acted as pilot vessel between Hiro Wan and Kure Ko for the remainder of the month. On 1 December, Recruit returned to Sasebo whence she got underway for the United States, 28 December. She returned to San Pedro 15 February by way of Saipan and Pearl Harbor, transited the Canal Zone 24 March and reached Orange, Tex., 3 April, where she decommissioned 15 August 1946.
Reclassified MSF-285, 7 February 1955, Recruit was moved 29 May 1958 to Green Cove Springs, Fla., where she remained until struck from the Navy list 1 May 1962.
Recruit earned three battle stars for World War II service.