assignments when advancing Allied land forces broke through to Anzio late in May. Operations in invasion of France On 12 August, Pioneer sortied for the invasion of southern France. Again minesweepers led the way, clearing the assault area, ignoring shore battery attacks while completing their complex and vital task. Patrol and sweeping operations included extensive activity to prepare newly captured Marseille to receive shipping. World War II Pacific operations Pioneer sailed from Bizerte on 24 November for stateside overhaul preparatory to Pacific deployment, for which she left Norfolk, Virginia, 15 February 1945, bound for Panama en route to Hawaii. Arriving Pearl Harbor on 18 March after underway training, Pioneer installed new radar gear and joined in exercises before getting underway for Okinawa on 23 May. Calls en route delayed her arrival until 7 August. For the remainder of the year, Pioneer joined in the gigantic task of clearing Japanese and Chinese waters of the thousands of mines laid in a decade of warfare. Decommissioning and sale Peaceful use of the oceans restored, Pioneer returned to San Pedro, California, 14 February 1946 to inactivate. She decommissioned and went into reserve at San Diego, California, 8 July 1946. She was redesignated MSF-105 on 7 February 1955. Struck from the Navy Register on 1 July 1972, the ship was sold to Mexico on 19 September 1972. Awards Pioneer received 4 battle stars for World War II service. Mexican Navy service On 19 September 1972, the former Pioneer was sold to the Mexican Navy and became ARM Leandro Valle (C70), the lead ship of the Mexican Navy's of offshore patrol vessels. Her pennant number was later changed to G01, and in 1993, was changed for the final time to P101. Leandro Valle was retired from service by 2004. According to divers on a trip to Mexico, the ship was sunk by the Mexican navy in June 2006. Notes References External links Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945 AM-105 USS Pioneer uboat.net - USS Pioneer (AM 105) globalsecurity.org -USS Pioneer (AM-105) Auk-class minesweepers of the United States Navy Ships built in Beaumont, Texas 1942 ships World War II minesweepers of the United States Valle-class patrol vessels