U.S. Navy career
Diploma was launched 21 May 1944 by
Tampa Shipbuilding Co., Inc.,
Tampa, Florida; sponsored by Mrs. F. J. Erwin, Jr.; and commissioned 15 July 1944.
Diploma arrived at
Pearl Harbor 12 January 1945 with the disabled
U.S. Army freighter FS-318 in tow. The next day she sailed on
convoy escort duty to
Guam and
Eniwetok, returning to Pearl Harbor 17 February.
Diploma was underway from Pearl Harbor 23 February for
Ulithi where she conducted minesweeping exercises in preparation for the invasion of
Okinawa. On 19 March she got underway for Okinawa to engage in pre-invasion minesweeping from 24 March until 1 April and then patrolled during the initial landings. From 17 April to 15 May she was in Ulithi for repairs. After escorting convoys to
Guam and
Saipan,
Diploma returned to Okinawa the last day of May to resume patrolling. From 4 July to 31 July she swept mines in support of the final
U.S. 3rd Fleet raids on the
Japanese mainland. After the cessation of hostilities she continued sweeping in the
East China Sea-
Ryukyus area and in the
Tsugaru Straits into
Ominato Naval Base at the northern tip of
Honshū.
Diploma received three
battle stars for World War II service. On 20 November
Diploma sailed for the
west coast, arriving at
San Diego, California, 20 December. She was underway on 5 January 1946 for
Mobile, Alabama, and after visits there and at
New Orleans, Louisiana, arrived at
Orange, Texas, 12 May.
Diploma was placed out of commission in reserve there 3 September 1946. She was reclassified MSF-221, 7 February 1955. Transferred to Mexico as DM-17, later renamed
Cadete Francisco Marquez (C-59) == Mexican Navy career ==