USS Pursuit (AM-108) was an acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing. Pursuit was laid down by Winslow Marine Railway and Shipbuilding Company, Winslow, Washington, on 12 November 1941; launched on 12 June 1942, sponsored by Miss Carrie Ann Copp; and commissioned on 30 April 1943. World War II Pacific operations Following shakedown off the U.S. West Coast, Pursuit escorted a round trip convoy between San Francisco, California and Pearl Harbor before getting underway for the New Hebrides on 25 October. Pursuit was command ship during the invasion of Betio Island (codename: "Helen") in the Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, before joining Task Force TF 52 for the Kwajalein invasion in which she served as an antisubmarine and minesweeping ship. On 21 March 1944 she returned to San Francisco, California, as a convoy escort. She steamed again for Pearl Harbor on 21 April, to escort convoys to the Marshalls through July. On 4 October she got underway from Eniwetok to Manus, Admiralty Islands, to stage for the invasion of the Philippines. Arriving in Leyte Gulf on 24 October, she conducted minesweeping operations and anti-submarine patrols, and searched for survivors of sunken ships and downed aircraft. Lingayen Gulf operations On 6 January 1945 Pursuit reached Lingayen Gulf among the first ships of the invasion force, where she operated until steaming for Leyte Gulf on 14 January. Back off Luzon on 28 January she swept off the San Felipe and San Antonio invasion beaches then on the 29th swept in Subic Bay. After completing this operation she proceeded to Guam and Ulithi on 4 February to prepare for the invasion of Okinawa. Okinawa Invasion operations Arriving at Okinawa on 24 March with Task Group TG 52.3, she commenced sweeping operations until the 31st, then took her part in an inner anti-submarine screen for the landing forces at Hagushi Beaches. On 6 April Pursuit shot down one suicide plane and assisted in shooting down several others, sailing on 27 May for Portland, Oregon. Post War decommissioning After the cessation of hostilities, Pursuit got underway for the east coast. Arriving Norfolk, Virginia 5 January 1946, from 28 April to 5 September she served as a target ship for torpedo bombing practice off the Florida coast until ordered to Orange, Texas for inactivation. She arrived there on 7 November,