1965

The months of June and July were spent conducting ASW exercises, a COMPTUEX, including training in advanced gunnery, ASW, Anti-PT, and AA warfare. A TAV from 24 July to 8 August followed by four days of advanced division ASW training completed preparation for deployment to the Western Pacific on 20 August.

The transit was made in company with Destroyer Division 92, the USS NAVASOTA (AO 106) and the USS KENNEBEC (AO 36). The ship detached from the Task Group to make a forty four hour sustained 27.5 knot run to Yokosuka, Japan, to deliver a critical patient with a ruptured appendix to the Naval Hospital, arriving on 4 September. After two days of voyage repairs, refueling and refurbishing, OZBOURN and the USS MANSFIELD steamed south to rendezvous with the USS MIDWAY and Task Group 77.6. OZBOURN screened and performed rescue destroyer duties for Task Group 77.6 in the Gulf of Tonkin until 11 October when Task Group 77.6 arrived in Subic Bay for rest and repairs.

After six days in port the Task Group proceeded to the South China Sea to operate "in country" and provide Air Strike and Naval Gunfire support in III and IV Corps areas of South Vietnam. On 22 October OZBOURN received an emergency call for supporting Naval Gunfire from the Coastal Surveillance Center at Vung Tai. Running at darken ship and high speeds near shoal water, the ship delivered 160 rounds of five inch high explosives on a known enemy Viet Cong concentration leading to the destruction of four loaded trucks. On 29 October, having completed routine "call fire" support missions, OZBOURN again in response to urgent requests for Naval Gunfire supported the emergency evacuation of friendly forces under attack by the Viet Cong force in company strength. Nearly 400 rounds of destructive five inch fire were delivered on enemy positions.

On 3 November, U.S. Special Forces Infiltration Teams being overrun by Viet Cong forces were supported in still another emergency call answered by the ship. The ship delivered nearly four tons of high explosives in close support and covering fires, permitting helicopter evacuation of the team. Eight OZBOURN crewmen were recommended for decorations for these actions.

On 6 November OZBOURN was ordered to proceed to Hong Kong to assume duties as SOPA (ADMIN) Hong Kong for a two week period. On the 21st of November, OZBOURN departed Hong Kong for Subic Bay and further Task Group operations with the KITTY HAWK both "in country" and in the Gulf of TONKIN. The ship spent Christmas at sea, but was able to celebrate the coming of the New Year in Yokosuka, Japan. Following the upkeep period in Yokosuka, OZBOURN commenced the trip home to Long Beach stopping briefly in Subic Bay, P.I., Guam and Pearl Harbor en route.

1966 >>