1967

During January and February 1967 OZBOURN was assigned as an escort to ENTERPRISE in Task Group 77.8. During March 1966 OZBOURN was again assigned as a NGFS unit in the II Corps. During the period 20-23 March OZBOURN was credited with killing 29 enemy, destroying 127 emplacements. On 24 March in response to an emergency call, OZBOURN stopped a surprise attack on a U.S. petroleum depot near An Tho.

On 25 March 1967 OZBOURN was reassigned to support the Amphibious Ready Group at the DMZ as a unit in Operation BEACON HILL ONE. In a thick fog in the early morning light OZBOURN was hit by 2 rounds of enemy gunfire, destroying the fire control radar room and igniting two ASW missiles in the missile magazine. Although hit and on fire and still under enemy gunfire, OZBOURN responded with effective counterbattery fire and silenced the enemy gun before departing for repairs. Upon completion of repairs in Subic Bay P.I., OZBOURN was ordered to carrier operations with ENTERPRISE in Task Group 77.8 until 18 April and then proceeded to Yokosuka for upkeep.

OZBOURN completed upkeep in early May and proceeded to Bangkok, Thailand for a port visit and as OCE for a combined USN-Royal Thai Navy ASW exercise. On 21 May OZBOURN reported for duty as a NGFS unit in II Corps. On 23, 24 and 25 May at the DMZ as a unit of the Amphibious Ready Group (TG 76.4). OZBOURN was fired on and engaged in three separate actions with enemy shore guns. On each occasion hidden guns on Cap Lay opened fire on U.S. units in the amphibious objective area and OZBOURN's rapid counterbattery fire silenced the enemy guns and precluded further damage.

June, July and August 1967 were spent primarily in restricted availability at Yokosuka. On 26 August 1967 OZBOURN joined Task Group 77.1 in Operation Sea Dragon and fired over 20 missions. On 29 and 30 August in company with BIRKLEY, OZBOURN was fired on by enemy guns near Cape Falaise. Again on 1 September 1967 OZBOURN and ST. PAUL were fired on by numerous enemy guns near Cape Falaise. Over 600 rounds of enemy shells were reported splashing around the two ships. From 13 September 1967 to 26 October OZBOURN was assigned as "Shotgun" destroyer on South SAR station. OZBOURN returned to Yokosuka for a brief upkeep period and returned to Sea Dragon Operation between 23 November 1967 and 4 December 1967. OZBOURN in company with ROBINSON on 25 November was taken under fire while engaged in operations. On 26 November OZBOURN was credited with sinking three Waterborne Logistics Craft and beaching a fourth.

On 4 December OZBOURN was taken under fire by enemy guns and took a direct hit aft that disabled the after gun mount. Two men were killed and three injured, one seriously. While evading the enemy gunfire, over a hundred splashes were recorded near OZBOURN. The battle damage was quickly repaired but it was necessary to proceed to Subic Bay for structural repairs. The remainder of December 1967 was spent in Yokosuka.

1968 >>