USS FIRM (MSO 444) was one of the U.S. Navy’s newest class of minesweepers. Firm displaced 780 tons when fully loaded, was 173 feet in length, and 35 feet in the beam. The keel was laid on April 16, 1952 at the J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corporation, Tacoma, Washington and the ship was launched on April 15, 1953. After fitting out at the U.S. Naval Station, Tacoma, Washington, FIRM was commissioned on October 12, 1954, The first Commanding Officer was Lieutenant John E, Renn, U.S. Navy. FIRM’s complement at commissioning was five officers, three chiefs, and fifty-three enlisted personnel.

Upon commissioning, the FIRM was deployed in the Fifth Fleet and assigned to Long Beach, California as a home port, under the administrative control of Commander Mine Squadron NINE and under the operational control of Commander Task Group 59.2.

Subsequent to commissioning and up to 20 December 1954, FIRM conducted one (1) week RFS period in Seattle, Washington, TT & ISE Long Beach area, and three (3) weeks shakedown cruise at San Diego, California followed by one (1) month restricted availability at Long Beach Naval Shipyard.

On 7 February 1955, ship was redesignated MSO-444 by the Secretary of the Navy.

When Mine Division NINETY-FOUR was established on March 2, 1955 FIRM was designated as division flagship.

From mid-January through 28 March 1955 Firm went through TT & ISE Long Beach area followed by a five month post shake down availability and flagship conversion at Long Beach Naval Shipyard. To facilitate COMINDIV NINETY-FOUR FIRM required extensive alterations.

FIRM engaged in training exercises in the Long Beach area for the remainder of 1955 and during the first four months of 1956.

From 1 September 1955 until the end of the year the FIRM was employed in Type training and individual ship exercises consisting of local operations with the exception of one trip to San Francisco for utilization of the degaussing range there.

On May 1, 1956, the FIRM In company with the other ships of Mine Division NINETY-FOUR deployed for Western Pacific, returning to Long Beach on November 2, 1956, traveling in company with the USS GREER COUNTY (LST 799). Upon her return, the FIRM entered the Long Beach Naval Shipyard for her regular overhaul period. On December 6, 1956, Lieutenant Don E. Hihn. U.S. Navy, relieved Lieutenant John E. Renn, U.S. Navy, as Commanding Officer.

On January 1, 1957, Nine Division NINETY-FOUR was redesignated Mine Division SEVENTY-TWO and the flagship for Commander Mine Division SEVENTY-TWO.

On completion of the overhaul period on March 27, 1957, the FIRM participated in underway training at San Diego, California, followed by participation in various minesweep exercises and individual ship training during the remainder of 1957.

On April 1, 1958, FIRM entered Long Beach Naval Shipyard f or a regular over­haul period. On June 4, 1958, Lieutenant William L. Prange, U.S. Navy relieved then Lieutenant Commander Don E. Hihn, U.S. Navy as Commanding Officer. Upon completion of the overhaul period, FIRM conducted underway training at San Diego, California. Following underway training, the FIRM underwent mine refresher training in preparation for her second deployment to Western Pacific.

On November 3, 1953, the FIRM, in company with the reminding units of Mine Division SEVENTY-TWO, departed Long Beach, California for Yokosuka, Japan via Pearl Harbor, T. H. and Midway Island. After a brief stop in Yokosuka, she proceeded to Sasebo, Japan. During the seven-month deployment, FIRM visited ports in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Okinawa, China, the Philippines, and Thailand. Joint mine exercises were conducted with the navies of Korea, Nationalist China, and Thailand. FIRM returned to Long Beach, California on May 31. 1959. From June 1959 until. November 1959, FIRM conducted training exercises in Long Beach area. Early in November 1959, FIRM, in company with other ships of Mine Division SEVENTY-TWO and USS GREER COUNTY (LST 799) left Long Beach to participate in “OPERATION TOTEM POLE” in Alaskan waters. Upon completion of this operation on November 24, 1959, FIRM visited Vancouver, British Columbia, and San Francisco, California before returning to her home port.

After local operations out at Long Beach during January and February 1960, FIRM entered the Long Beach Naval Shipyard on March 14, 1960 for scheduled shipyard availability. The following day Lieutenant Commander Prange was relieved as Commanding Officer by Lieutenant Lee Beggett, Jr., U.S. Navy.

The shipyard overhaul was completed on May 13, 1960 and FIRM then departed to San Diego, California for refresher training. Refresher training was followed by mine warfare refresher training in August 1960.

During September 1960, the FIRM conducted local training exercises in the Long Beach area, and in October she participated in “OPERATION PACKMULE”, an amphibious training exercise off the coast of California.

Following a dry-docking period and Christmas leave period, FIRM began her third deployment to the Western Pacific on January 4, 1961, in company with two other ships of Mine Division SEVENTY-TWO. During this deployment FIRM was scheduled to visit many ports in the Far East, including Guam, Subic Bay, Manila, and ports in Japan.