1972

On 1 February, OZBOURN reported to Commander Fleet Training Group, US. Pacific Fleet for six weeks of refresher training following the shipyard overhaul. The OZBOURN returned to Long Beach on 15 March for a brief rest period prior to the impending deployment to WESTPAC.

The OZBOURN was deployed to SEVENTH Fleet for operations in the Western Pacific on 10 April, having departed on short notice nearly a month ahead of schedule, to augment U. S. Naval Forces in the Gulf of Tonkin in reply to the intensified aggression of North Vietnam. Upon leaving Long Beach, the OZBOURN proceeded in company with USS EVERSOLE (DD 789), another unit of Destroyer Squadron 19, to rendezvous With the aircraft carrier USS MIDWAY (CVA 41) approximately one thousand miles to the west for the transit to Subic Bay, Republic of the Phillippines. The transit was accomplished non-stop as fuel requirements were provided by the MIDWAY and, on one occasion, by a Fleet Oiler.

After a brief period of upkeep in Subic Bay on 24 and 25 April, the OZBOURN departed from the Philippines on 26 April with the EVERSOLE to escort USS MIDWAY to a position off the coast of South Vietnam. On 30 April OZBOURN entered the combat zone and provided mutual support during air strikes by MIDWAY aircraft on targets in South Vietnam. On the first of May, the OZBOURN proceeded northward to Join the guided missile cruiser USS CHICAGO (CG11) on station in the Gulf of Tonkin. While escorting the cruiser, the OZBOURN's duties included observing the movement of unidentified ships and aircraft as well as providing a means of ready assistance in the event any US planes were forced down in the Gulf.

The OZBOURN left the Gulf of Tonkin on 19 May to assume a position off the coast of South Vietnam southeast of DaNang for Naval Gunfire Support Operations. The ship remained there until 25 May when she was assigned to another gunfire support station a few miles up the coast from the Mekong River.. On 30 May the OZBOURN was reassigned to a gunfire support station near the Demilitarized Zone where she remained until 1 June. During the period as a gunfire support ship, the OZBOURN patrolled slowly a few thousand yards oft the shore. When. a call for fire support was received to aid friendly positions in disrupting enemy troop movements or to destroy enemy supply locations, the map co-ordinates of the area to be shelled were received from spotters and within a few seconds the ship's guns would open fire. The ship departed. the Naval Gunfire Support station on 1 June for a four day transit to Sasebo, Japan, arriving on 5 June for a week of upkeep, logistic replenishment and liberty. The OZBOURN departed Sasebo on. 12 June for the South China Sea and assumed the duties of mutual support ship for the USS HANCOCK (CVA 19). The ship remained with the HANCOCK through the remainder of June and into July on station in the South China Sea and the Gulf of Tonkin. On 14; July both ships departed for Subic Bay for a week of upkeep.

1972 cont. >>