did not return to the ship. When the crew returned, Ensign Sam Gravely was the new executive officer. Soon after, PC-1264 returned to New London for its submarine training duty. However, PC-1264 then received orders to return to New York "for disposal." On 7 February 1946, five officers and twenty-eight enlisted men stood at attention as PC-1264 was officially decommissioned. The war records of the submarine chaser PC-1264 and the destroyer escort USS Mason considerably contributed to opening up billets for African Americans in the post-war navy. As a final honor for PC-1264, the officer-in-charge of the final inspection party remarked, "This ship has done a better job of decommissioning—is in better shape—than any other ship, at least, here in New York." Because of her condition, PC-1264 became the subchaser used as a showcase for prospective civilian purchasers. After the war After PC-1264 was decommissioned, she was transferred to the United States Maritime Commission for final disposition. , she was extant—albeit in poor repair—at the former Donjon Marine Yard in New York. Two 1990-era photographs show her heavily rusted, but still afloat amid other hulks. Like many officers, Lieutenant Purdon left the U.S. Navy after the war but remained in the Naval Reserve. He worked as an intelligence analyst for the Central Intelligence Group until 1948, when he was recalled to active duty. He retired in 1963 with the rank of commander. Eric Purdon then held civilian jobs with the Commerce Department, Office of Economic Opportunity and the Job Corps, and was also an author. He died in 1989. Citations References Los Angeles Times. Eric S. Purdon; Helped Integrate Navy. 10 December 1989. (Commander Purdon's obituary) Purdon, Eric (1972). Black Company: The Story of Subchaser 1264. Robert C. Luce, Washington/New York. Priolo, Gary, and Joe Radigan. (2005). NavSource Online: Submarine Chaser Photo Archive: PC-1264. U.S. Navy. USS PC-1264 (1944–1948). Navy History and Heritage Command Veigele, William J. (2003). PC Patrol Craft of World War II: A History of the Ships and Their Crews. Santa Barbara, CA: Astral Publishing Co. PC-461-class submarine chasers Ships built in Morris Heights, Bronx 1943 ships World War II patrol vessels of the United States Black history in the United States military