These ships bravely went before the fleet in peacetime and war, in operations such as the Cuban Missile blockade, Vietnam, Operation "Ernest Will" (the escort of the re-flagged Kuwaiti oil tankers), and even in Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Many lives were saved by the actions of these minesweepers. We were the first in, sweeping the watery mine fields so others could come after us.
These were not large ships that received great attention. We quietly went about the business of saving lives under what were considered harsh conditions. We had none of the luxuries of the larger Navy vessels.
The well deserved motto for these great ships was "Where the Fleet Goes, We've Been" and for the men that served on them "Wooden Ships, Iron Men".