USS New Orleans (LPH-11) - 1960s and 1970s

1960s and 1970s

New Orleans made her first appearance in the Western Pacific in August 1969 as flagship for Amphibious Ready Group Bravo. Her embarked Marine helicopter squadron and battalion leading team were ready to be landed within hours. In October, she hosted the Eighth Vietnamese Awards. Later that month, she participated in Keystone Cardinal Operation, a retrograde movement of Marines out of Vietnam. The ship's first deployment terminated in March 1970. After having participated in five amphibious exercises, conducted many weeks of Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) maneuvers in the South China Sea, and visiting such ports as Hong Kong, Manila, Subic Bay, Okinawa, and Taipei, New Orleans returned to San Diego.

Two other interesting assignments were given to New Orleans prior to her next Western Pacific deployment. In August 1970, she became flagship for Commander First Fleet and provided support for President Richard Nixon's visit to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and made a port call to Acapulco. Then, in late 1970, she prepared for the recovery of Apollo 14. On 9 February 1971, she picked up astronauts Alan Shepard, Stuart Roosa, and Edgar Mitchell some 900 miles (1,450 km) south of American Samoa.

In May 1971, New Orleans made her second Western Pacific appearance, conducting various contingency exercises, a multi-national cruising exercise simulating a convoy under combat conditions, and a simulated assault with the Marines on the island of Mindoro, Republic of the Philippines. This deployment was completed in November of that same year.

Following a rather extensive yard period, New Orleans began her next Western Pacific deployment on 17 July 1972 under the command of Captain R.W. Carius. She became flagship for Amphibious Squadron Three and later Amphibious Ready Group Alfa under Commodore W.H. Ellis. During late July and early August, New Orleans and her embarked units participated in the Philippine flood relief operations, earning the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.

The helicopter carrier became engaged in contingency operations again with the ready group off the coast of Vietnam until early February 1973, at which time she became the flagship for Commander Task Force 78 and the control ship for Operation End Sweep. CTF 78, headed by Rear Admiral Brian McCauley, was tasked with de-mining operations for the coast and harbors of North Vietnam. She ceased operations in Haiphong Harbor on 17 April 1973.

New Orleans next participated in recovery operations for the Skylab 2, Skylab 3, and Skylab 4 missions. She was also present for the recovery of astronauts Thomas Stafford, Deke Slayton, and Vance Brand during the joint American-Soviet Apollo-Soyuz mission of 5 July 1975.