The second INFLICT (AM-456) was launched 16 October 1953, by Wilmington Boat Works, Inc., Wilmington, California; sponsored by Mrs. Robert E. Carlson; commissioned on 11 May 1954, with Lt. G. T. Ragon in command. After a shakedown cruse  along the West Coast, the INFLICT engaged in sonar and mine sweeping exercises until she departed for Long Beach, California on 1 July, and the Western Pacific. Upon arriving in Yokosuka, Japan on 5 August 1954, she began operations with the navies of South Korea, Nationalist China, and Japan. In February 1955, she was reclassified as MSO-456. INFLICT then returned to Long Beach, California, 17 February 1956  and spent the remainder of the year on training operations along the west coast.

During 1957, the INFLICT continued operations off the coast of California and Mexico, helping to maintain one of America's mighty anti submarine warfare forces. The minesweeper sailed again on 3 January 1958 for duty in the Far East. She arrived there just as a crisis loomed in Indonesia. The strength of this mighty armada made itself felt as the crisis diminished quickly without incident. During her tour , the INFLICT participated in joint exercises with the Philippine, Thailand and Chinese Nationalist navies before returning to Long Beach on 15 July.

For the next 20 months she remained in California waters from San Diego to Santa Barbara constantly training to keep at peak readiness. In June 1959, the INFLICT accompanied destroyers, other minesweeps, and heavy cruisers HELENA and BREMERTON up the Columbia River for the Portland, Oregon Rose Festival. She sailed again on 3 May 1960 for joint operations with our Asian allies in Western Pacific. She remained there for the next six months. Stopping at ports in Japan, Korea, Nationalist China, Hong Kong, Philippines, Guam and Pearl Harbor. While in the Philippines the crew had the unusual opportunity to visit the island of Corregidor. She and her other sweeps were a symbol of joint naval cooperation for security of the Free World. She returned to Pier 9, Long Beach Naval Station on 16 November 1960. During 1961, the INFLICT was engaged in mine sweeping operations and midshipman training out of Long Beach.

She sailed again on 7 April 1962, for exercises in and around Pearl Harbor. Participating in the last atmospheric atom bomb tests, gathering data in and around Hawaiian waters from the air burst blasts above Johnston Island. She returned again to Long Beach on 17 August 1962.

During 1963, in addition to her training in California waters, the INFLICT sailed once again on 28 October for joint mine countermeasure exercises with Canada. Returning to Long Beach on 3 December, she resumed operations out of Long Beach until 22 May 1964, when she sailed again for duty in the Far East. The USS INFLICT again operated with friendly navies of Asia, and during the summer was deployed for service along South Vietnam, as our support of that embattled republic was increased to assist its struggle against aggression. INFLICT returned to Long Beach 7 December.

She sailed for the Far East on 7 February 1966. After arriving Subic Bay 28 March, she headed for   “Operation Market Time” on 5 April and remained on patrol along South Viet Nam's coastline preventing the infiltration of arms and men from North Vietnam. Except for  brief interludes, she continued this important duty until she left the war zone on 1 November and returned to Long Beach 13 December.

The USS INFLICT continued to operate between her home port of Long Beach, California and South Vietnam. She participating in various military operations and rendered needed support to US Navy river patrol crafts (PBR's - Swift Boats). In addition to her duties  with Operation Market Time, she also transported North Vietnamese and Viet Coing POW's to allied POW transfer points. Besides her  regular accompaniment of US Navy personnel, she also was assigned with two South Vietnamese Army interpreters, which were need for the many boardings of fishing trawlers, junks and sipans during Operation Market Time.

During the course of her many patrols close along the South Viet Nam coastline, she suffered some shore battery damage in the process, up to and including a reported heavy mortar shell through the forward berthing area. Casualties taken were unknown to this editor. (I could never confirm the shore battery damage,  but was told this by an old shipmate John Withers  I ran into him in  Belmont Shore, California, during the late 60's. We drove over to Fellows & Stewart Shipyard to see her in dry-dock. We could not get anyone at the gangway watch to tell us one way or another except that it was ‘battle damage‘ and routine overhaul).

From November 1968 through the spring of 1971 INFLICT, along with the other four ships of MINEDIV 71, were the first MSO’s to go through the major MSO REHAB overhauls. Virtually the entire ship was reconfigured: all new Waukesha Diesels, a complete upgrade of the electronics, including radar, and all radio gear, removal of the W.W.II type 40 MM with a modern 20 MM, all new interior appointments, including all new furniture and other hardware. Note: Following return to Long Beach from Marketime patrol in Vietnam on 24 June ‘68, we were in a major fleet exercise off Mexico, —we were the ‘Russian Trawler’ for the exercise. We then received word that Kapalama shipyard in Honolulu, and not Long Beach shipyard, would be our home for the next year. The overhaul took almost 2 1/2 years.

INFLICT, along with the rest of MINEDIV 71 participated in “Operation End Sweep,” which as part of the Vietnam peace agreement, swept Haiphong Harbor of mines we had laid. The operation was conducted from 28 January 1973 through 27 July 1973. This would be a preceding example, to that of the Persian Gulf, where MSO's were used for their designed purposes. In 1974, she changed home ports sailing to the East Coast making Little Creek, Virginia her home port. In September 1974, she operated out of Little Creek until 1986 when she became an Atlantic Fleet Reserve MSO.

In the fall of 1987, the Persian Gulf crisis started heating up with tankers being mined in the worlds oil lifeline sea lanes. By that time the only actual minesweepers available to the US were six reserve MSO's, INFLICT included. She along with FEARLESS and ILLUSIVE were towed 9,000 nautical miles to the gulf by USS GRAPPLE (ARS-53). The record compiled by the six US Navy MSO's operating in the gulf from 1987 through 1991 is by any definition exceptional. Within the first eighteen months of operations, the MSO's accounted for over fifty moored mines and cleared three major minefields. She continued with check sweeping convoy tracks throughout the gulf. In March 1989, half of the MSO's returned to the states.

The USS INFLICT was one of the top hunters accounting for around 10 to 20 contact mines destroyed. After thirty years in the mine force the MSO's in the gulf had the rare opportunity to operate in the manner for which they had been designed…… hunting and sweeping mines in established routes in advance of convoy sorties.

She was sold after the gulf war ended in December of 1992, and then scrapped in Baltimore, Maryland in November of 1993…And with her went many precious memories.…. As far as I know nothing was saved for history.