training cruise and amphibious exercises. In early May, Alamo unloaded her ammunition at the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station in preparation for an overhaul at NS Long Beach. The ship entered drydock on 13 May. Yard work was completed on 15 September, and then began a period of refresher training which lasted through 10 December. The year 1972 began with the ship in upkeep. Then a series of training exercises in preparation for deployment followed. Prior to her departure, the crew adopted an Irish Setter puppy as the ship's mascot---Lady. In April, Alamo left Long Beach for the Far East. In company with the Amphibious Readiness Group arrived at the beginning of the North Vietnamese Easter Offensive. During her seven and one-half-month WestPac tour, she made numerous troop and equipment lifts to and from Vietnam. During this tour, the ship was attached to Amphibious Squadron 7. Alamo participated in the Second Battle of Quảng Trị, involving the sea and air landing of Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps troops near Quang Tri City in June 1972. She was the Primary Control Ship for an amphibious feint with LVTs and Army of the Republic of Vietnam forces to draw off pressure to the south. Alamo also was a primary control ship for the rescue efforts for flooding victims in Dagupan, Lingyan Gulf, Philippines in July 1972. A Marine CH-53 crashed in the town as it flaired for a landing. The pilot had not accounted for the extra weight of its armor. The assigned ACU-1 LCMS-8s brought out the demolished aircraft. The ship was awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. Following an offload of Marines in Okinawa she maneuvered south to evade Super Typhoon Rita. In a very unusual and unexpected move, Rita looped around Okinawa and caught her and in high sea and winds. She ballasted down and endured heavy seas with blue water cresting over her bridge. It was also during this deployment that a steering gear failure caused her to collided (port-side to) with an oiler, USS Guadalupe(AO-32),during underway replenishment. Alamo's commanding officer exhibited exemplary seamanship as the ships were entangled in the refueling gear. Following completion of these duties, she got underway and returned to Long Beach on 8 November. Upon arrival the ship's 1MC broadcast the Lone Ranger theme to the delight of the dependents awaiting her return. The ship remained in upkeep through 27 March 1973. On