▁North ▁Vietnam ese ▁P T ▁boats ▁had ▁engaged ▁American ▁destroy ers ▁in ▁the ▁G ulf ▁of ▁Ton kin . ▁After ▁providing ▁ant is ub marine ▁war fare ▁( AS W ) ▁protection ▁for ▁T F   7 7 ▁and ▁after ▁particip ating ▁in ▁a ▁naval ▁weapons ▁demonstr ation , ▁O z b ourn ▁returned ▁to ▁Long ▁Beach . ▁Several ▁months ▁of ▁maintenance , ▁rep airs ▁and ▁inter mitt ent ▁local ▁training ▁operations ▁followed ; ▁then ▁came ▁another ▁deployment ▁to ▁the ▁Western ▁Pacific ▁ 2 0 ▁August ▁ 1 9 6 5 . ▁Att ached ▁to ▁T G   7 7 . 6 , ▁O z b ourn ▁provided ▁gun fire ▁support ▁in ▁the ▁III ▁and ▁IV ▁Corps ▁areas ▁of ▁South ▁Vietnam ▁deliver ing ▁tons ▁of ▁high ▁explos ives ▁in ▁covering ▁fire . ▁E ight ▁crew men ▁were ▁recommended ▁for ▁decor ations ▁during ▁these ▁actions . ▁ ▁In ▁July ▁ 1 9 6 6 ▁O z b ourn ▁began ▁a ▁two - year ▁tour ▁of ▁duty ▁with ▁the ▁ 7 th ▁Fle et ▁as ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁Dest roy er ▁Squadron ▁ 9 . ▁A ▁great ▁part ▁of ▁that ▁time ▁was ▁spent ▁on ▁gun fire ▁assign ments ▁supporting ▁troops ▁in ▁South ▁Vietnam ▁and ▁inter dict ing ▁supply ▁and ▁communic ations ▁routes ▁in ▁North ▁Vietnam . ▁She ▁received ▁direct ▁hits ▁on ▁ 2 5 ▁March ▁and ▁ 4 ▁December ▁ 1 9 6 7 ▁but ▁continued ▁her ▁mission ▁each ▁time . ▁For ▁" out standing ▁actions ▁against ▁the ▁enemy ▁and ▁for ▁excellent ▁combat ▁read iness