1961

On 2 March 1961 the Ozbourn entered the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at Bremerton, Washington to undergo FRAM Mark I conversion. On 15 March 1961 Commander TURNER was relieved as Commanding Officer by Lieutenant Commander Donald V. GORMAN, the Executive Officer at the time. On 16 June Lieutenant Commander GORMAN officially became the Commanding Officer.

On 2 December 1961 Lieutenant Commander GORMAN was relieved as Commanding Officer by Commander William W. LANCASTER. Lieutenant Commander GORMAN reverted to his former billet as Executive Officer. On 5 and 6 December the ship successfully completed her INSERV Trials. A final trial was held on 18 and 19 December, and the ship's conversion was completed and she was released from the shipyard as scheduled on 22 December. The ship remained in the Bremerton area after completion until the beginning of February for post FRAM availability to conduct tests and evaluations of the new equipment.

On 9 February 1962 the OZBOURN departed Bremerton for her new home port of Long Beach, California, arriving on 12 February. On 20 February the ship began Refresher Training in San Diego. The ship completed Refresher Training on 7 April. The ship completed in the striking force exercise "PORK BARREL" off the coast of Southern California from 14 to 22 May.

The Ozbourn departed 7 June 1962 for duty in the Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific. While in Hawaii the ship participated in the Amphibious Operation FLYING DISK off the coast of Oahu from 20-23 June.

From 11-14 October while en route to Sasebo, Japan the OZBOURN sighted a Japanese fishing boat in distress. The USS HOLLISTER (DD 788), operating with OZBOURN towed the vessel safely into Sasebo, Japan, The OZBOURN arrived in Long Beach on 21 December 1962.

1963

The OZBOURN operated locally in the Long Beach-San Diego area until March 1963 when she was given the special mission with the USS SMALL (DD 838) to escort the USS CONSTELLATION (CVA 63) to duty in the Western Pacific and to escort the USS KITTY HAWK (CVA 63) from Japan to the United States. The OZBOURN returned to Long Beach on 6 April 1963.

In May the OZBOURN joined Task Group 10 to prepare for a major Presidential Demonstration which would display the power and versatility of the First Fleet AAW and ASW forces. The OZBOURN was selected, from all First Fleet Destroyers, as the ASROC firing control ship for the Anti-Submarine portion of the exercises. President John F. Kennedy, from a grandstand seat on the flight deck of the USS KITTY HAWK (CVA 63) watched the OZBOURN successfully launch her Anti-Submarine Rocket on 6 June.

During the summer months served as night Plane guard for the USS HORNET (CVS 12), USS BENNINGTON (CVS 20), USS MIDWAY (CVA 42) and USS TICONDEROGA (CVA 14). She also provided services for the Pacific Fleet Marine Force expending nearly 1000 rounds of five inch ammunition.

On 9 September the OZBOURN departed Long Beach with elements from DESRON 11 and DESRON 23, rendezvousing with the USS HORNET (CVS 12) in a new and unfamiliar roll, OZBOURN had joined her first HUK group, Task Group 31.8 and participated in exercise "SADDLE SOAP" from the 9th to the 20th of September. Twenty one ships and dozens of aircraft, including units from the Canadian Pacific Fleet conducted a full scale war game of the ASW mission.

1963 >>