The second Lucid (AM-458) was
laid down by Higgins Inc. Shipyard,
New Orleans, La., 16 March 1953;
launched 14 November 1953; sponsored
by Mrs. Mary J. Barrow; reclassified
MSO-458 on 7 February 1955; and
commissioned 4 May 1955, Lt. J. H.
Graham in command.
After shakedown
in the Caribbean, Lucid
sailed for the Pacific, arriving
Long Beach 22 August. For the next
13 months, she performed minewarfare
exercises on the west coast, then
sailed on her first western Pacific
tour 1 October 1958. During the
period 1956 to 5 November 1963,
Lucid sailed on four WestPac cruises
and while there performed operations
with the mighty 7th Fleet. This
bastion of strength in the Far East
served notice to the Communists that
America would not tolerate threats
to the peace and stability of the
free countries of Asia. In addition
to exercises with the 7th Fleet, the
minesweeper participated in good
will programs in the countries she
visited. The time between WestPac
cruises was spent in mine
countermeasure exercises off the
southern California coast
Throughout 1964
Lucid continued training
exercises off the west coast, then
departed Long Beach 5 April 1965 on
her fifth WestPac cruise. Arriving
Subic Bay, Philippine Islands. 24
May, she prepared for operation
"Market Time" off the coast of
Vietnam. From June to October the
minesweeper continued patrol and
surveillance of Vietnamese Junk
traffic. She boarded a total of 186
Junks and steel-hulled ships, and
contributed to a reduction of enemy
infiltration of men and supplies by
sea. Lucid returned to Long
Beach 14 December and operated off
the southern California coast until
May 1966 when she commenced overhaul
at Harbor Boat Building Co., San
Pedro, Calif.
In October 1966,
having completed her overhaul, Lucid
prepared for another WestPac
deployment. She departed Long Beach
on 6 January 1967.
Lucid served
once again with the Market Time
forces, performing surveillance and
search duties, as well as hunting
mines in the harbors of South
Vietnam On 16 October 1967, she
departed Subic Bay, homeward bound
after a long but rewarding
deployment Lucid arrived at Long
Beach on 18 November. Following a
brief overhaul period, and refresher
training, she sailed for WestPac 1
April. Along with patrol duty off
the Vietnamese Coast and upkeep
periods at Subic Bay and Singapore,
Lucid conducted minesweeping
exercises with Allied Navies
Returning to Long Beach in
mid-October, the minesweeper began a
yard period where she remained into
1969. Lucid was stricken 15
May 1976 and disposed of by Navy
sale in the November.
From:
Dictionary of American Naval
Fighting Ships
