USS Symbol (AM-123) - Second Commissioning

Second Commissioning

Symbol was towed to Long Beach, California, on 15 October 1950 for activation and placed in commission again on 28 October 1950. The ship was overhauled at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard from 19 November 1950 to 26 January 1951. After shakedown and underway training, she operated off the California coast through December 1951. On 4 January 1952, Symbol stood out from Long Beach en route to the Korean War zone. She called at Pearl Harbor and Midway Island before arriving at Sasebo, Japan, on 1 February. The minesweeper operated in Korean waters from 7 to 25 February; 17 March to 20 April; 7 May to 9 June; and 29 June to 30 July. Symbol participated in extensive minesweeping and patrol operations on the east coast of Korea, including the sweep of Wonsan Harbor. She was also a unit of the United Nations Blockading and Escort Force. Symbol, operating with Toucan (AM-387), intercepted large numbers of communist sampans running food and supplies along the coast. The two ships shot up a total of 70 sampans while boat crews captured seven, taking 30 prisoners. Symbol returned to Long Beach, California, from her first tour in Korea on 2 September 1952.

Symbol, in company with Mine Division 54, sailed from Long Beach on 3 May 1953 for her second tour in Korean waters. She arrived at Sasebo on 29 May and moved to Korea on 18 June. During the next month, she participated in coastal minesweeping operations off the North Korean coast. She was straddled by North Korean shore batteries on 7 July, but not hit. Symbol patrolled around Cheju Do, South Korea, from 10 August to 15 September and off the southeast coast of Korea from 29 September to 20 October. The tour ended on 3 December 1953 at Long Beach.

Symbol was deployed to the western Pacific from 21 April to 10 November 1955 and operated along the Korean coast. Upon her return to California, she operated from her home port of Long Beach until 27 July 1956 when she was again placed in reserve, out of commission, and attached to the Pacific Reserve Fleet.