1972

Upon leaving the Philippines on 23 July, the OZBOURN escorted the HANCOCK back to the Tonkin Gulf. On 28 July the ship was directed to proceed to the vicinity of the Hon La Island Group off the coast of North Vietnam approximately 20 miles north of Dong Hoi. While there the OZBOURN'S duties included surveillance of merchant shipping in North Vietnamese waters and interdiction of' supplies to North Vietnamese forces. The ship remained in that capacity until 10 August when orders were received to proceed northward to join the guided missile cruiser USS LONG BEACH (CGN 9) as mutual support ship. On 13 August the ship proceeded to the southern part of the Tonkin Gulf to join the aircraft carrier USS AMERICA (CVA 66). The OZBOURN remained with the AMERICA until 23 August when she departed for a week of logistic replenishment and liberty in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

The OZBOURN departed Taiwan on 2 September and proceeded toward the coast out South Vietnam. After evading Typhoon Elsie, the ship proceeded into the Tonkin Gulf on 4 September as part of a task unit of Destroyers that conducted a series of nightly naval gunfire strikes on North Vietnamese military. complexes, supply depots, and logistics trans-shipment points.

In September, the OZBOURN was directed to proceed to the gun line in the vicinity of Quang Tri City, a few miles south of the Demilitarized Zone. The ship furnished naval gunfire support for units ashore until 22 September when she once again was assigned to duties near the Hon La Island Group. While operating there, the OZBOURN took part in the sinking of over 50 tons of enemy supplies that had been placed in the sea by a merchant ship and had moved seaward instead of toward the North Vietnamese coast as planned by the North Vietnamese. On 1 October the ship proceeded several miles out into the Gulf to locate a drone aircraft that had gone down and prevent the small craft from sinking. On 2 October, the task unit of which the ship was a member, proceeded south in the Gulf to avoid Typhoon Lorna. Shortly after returning to station on 3 October, she was directed to proceed south to a gun line position in the vicinity of Quang Tri City. On 9 October Rear Admiral KERN, Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group SEVENTH Fleet, visited the OZBOURN on station for several hours while the ship's guns were blazing away at targets in the vicinity of the Demilitarized. Zone. The OZBOURN remained on the gun line supporting South Vietnamese operation until her departure on 11 October for Hong Kong for a well deserved period of relaxation.

The ship departed Hong Kong on 19 October and proceeded to Subic Bay, arriving 20 October. After three days of upkeep, repairs and replenishment, the OZBOURN departed Subic Bay on 23 October for transit back to Long Beach in company with Commander Destroyer Squadron NINETEEN embarked in USS SOMERS (DDG-34), USS BERKLEY (DDG-15), USS MCCAIN (DDG-36), and USS EVERSOLE (DD 789).

While deployed in WESTPAC in 1972 (her last overseas deployment) , the OZBOURN spent 181 days at sea and 34 days in port. OZBOURN fired over 9000 rounds of five inch ammunition. at enemy targets during operations in the Vietnam area. During the deployment, OZBOURN conducted a total of 80 underway replenishments with various oilers, ammunition and supply ships of the SEVENTH Fleet.

1975 >>