▁States ▁Navy ▁for ▁the ▁dangerous ▁task ▁of ▁removing ▁mines ▁from ▁mine fields ▁laid ▁in ▁the ▁water ▁to ▁prevent ▁ships ▁from ▁passing . ▁ ▁Bob ol ink ▁was ▁launched ▁on ▁ 1 5 ▁June ▁ 1 9 1 8 ▁by ▁Baltimore ▁D ry ▁D ock ▁and ▁Sh ip building ▁Company , ▁in ▁Baltimore , ▁Maryland ; ▁spons ored ▁by ▁Miss ▁Els ie ▁Jean ▁Will is ; ▁and ▁commission ed ▁ 2 8 ▁January ▁ 1 9 1 9 , ▁with ▁Lieutenant ▁Frank ▁Bruce ▁in ▁command . ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁I ▁mine field ▁clear ance ▁ ▁Bob ol ink ▁depart ed ▁Nor folk , ▁Virginia ▁in ▁April ▁ 1 9 1 9 ▁to ▁join ▁Division ▁ 2 , ▁North ▁Sea ▁M ines we eping ▁Det achment , ▁at ▁Kir kw all , ▁Or k ney ▁Islands . ▁While ▁swe eping ▁in ▁the ▁North ▁Sea ▁on ▁ 1 4 ▁May ▁ 1 9 1 9 , ▁a ▁mine ▁expl oded ▁close ▁by , ▁causing ▁considerable ▁damage ▁to ▁the ▁stern ▁and ▁killing ▁Bruce , ▁Frank ▁M ., ▁L T . ▁The ▁USS ▁Bruce ▁( DD - 3 2 9 ) ▁was ▁named ▁for ▁L t . ▁Bruce . ▁Her ▁rep airs ▁at ▁the ▁Dev on port ▁D ock yard , ▁England , ▁took ▁six ▁months ▁and ▁she ▁returned ▁to ▁Nor folk ▁in ▁January ▁ 1 9 2 0 . ▁ ▁Post war ▁operations ▁▁ ▁Between ▁ 1 9 2 0 ▁and ▁ 1 9 3 1 , ▁Bob ol ink ▁served ▁with ▁the ▁Fle et ▁Base ▁Force