1963

The OZBOURN barely had time to catch her breath from "SADDLE SOAP" when an INSURV inspection team boarded, and found the ship in good condition, ready for sea and war. Two days after INSURV on the 3rd of October Commander W. LANCASTER was relieved by Commander David W. BERGER on board.

Commander BERGER took his new command to sea the following Monday for two weeks of ASW training in company with the USS YORKTOWN (CVS 10), DESDIV 112 and CORTRON 3. The HUK group, working with the USS BLUEGILL (SS 242) conducted several exercises under extremely adverse weather conditions.

During January 1964, OZBOURN participated in a major fleet exercise "OPERATION TURK'S HEAD" and received a letter of commendation from COMASWGRU 5, Rear Admiral CALDWELL.

In February, OZBOURN entered Long Beach Naval Shipyard for her regular shipyard overhaul. During this time major repairs were accomplished along with the installation of much new and modern equipment. After leaving the shipyard in early May, the ship underwent six weeks of intensive underway Refresher Training conducted by COMFLETRAGRU San Diego, California.

On 8 July 1964, OZBOURN sailed independently for Pearl Harbor to join ASW Group 1 and DESDIV 233 en route to a six month Western Pacific deployment. On 10 July, Commander BERGER was injured at sea and urgently required transfer to the nearest hospital facilities for medical attention. On 11 July, the USS GENERAL EDWIN P. PATRICK, a MSTS passenger liner, rendezvoused with the OZBOURN. A difficult night transfer by motor whaleboat to the GENERAL PATRICK was successfully completed. The Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander Marvin D. NELSON, JR. assumed temporary command of the OZBOURN.. After a short stay in Pearl Harbor during which the COMDESDIV 233 shifted his flag to OZBOURN, the ship sailed for Yokosuka, Japan. Commander BURGER's injuries proved serious enough to prevent him reassuming command, so on 7 August 1964, Lieutenant Commander NELSON relieved Commander BERGER as Commanding Officer of the OZBOURN.

After six days in Yokosuka, ASWGRU 1 sailed for the south China Sea on alert after the North Vietnamese PT Boat attacks on the U.S. Destroyers MADDOX and TURNER JOY in the Gulf of Tonkin. After 31 continuous days of ASW protection for Task Force 77 in the South China Sea, ASWGRU One put into Subic Bay, Philippine Islands for a well deserved upkeep period.

On the morning of 17 September, while on life guard station for an underway replenishment, a helicopter from the USS KEARSARGE (CVS 33) crash landed in the water dead ahead of the OZBOURN. Seven minutes later the helicopter's crew of four were hauled aboard the ship's motor whale boat non the worse for wear. After extinguishing an engine fire in the helicopter, recovery operations were attempted with the still floating helicopter but, unfortunately they were unsuccessful.

On 1 December the OZBOURN, along with other units of the Seventh Fleet, participated in an impressive naval weapon demonstration held by CINPAC for a number of high ranking United States and foreign military officers. For her part, the OZBOURN fired an ASROC missile.

Greeted by a enthusiastic crowd of relatives and friends, the OZBOURN returned to Long Beach, California on 16 December 1964 for a well deserved and much needed period in port for rest and maintenance prior to beginning intermittent local operations out of Long Beach. On 10 May 1965 the OZBOURN entered dry dock at Todd Shipyard in San Pedro, California, to begin two days repair to her hull before again commencing local operations off the Southern Coast of California.

1965 >>