1966
The New Year 1966 found Wallace L. Lind at Naples, the second of her Mediterranean cruise ports. The destroyer operated out of ports in Italy, France, and Spain and participated in a two-week search for a nuclear weapon lost off the coast of Spain. On 9 March, she joined Franco-American forces for an already-in-progress amphibious exercise off the coast of Santa Monza, Corsica. On 16 March, the ship began her homeward journey and arrived at Norfolk, 10 days later.
From 18 April to 6 May, Wallace L. Lind conducted ASW operations with other units of DesRon 2 and three German destroyers. She then participated in the orientation of Wasp (CVS-18) at Guantanamo Bay; and, upon her return to Norfolk, she remained in port for almost a month. The summer months from June through September were spent working with Fleet Sonar School, Key West, Florida, and conducting a midshipmen summer cruise.
On 7 September, the destroyer headed for the Gemini Recovery Station off the Florida coast and was responsible for emergency recovery of the Gemini II astronauts should an abort of the mission occur within the first three minutes of flight. The remainder of the year was spent conducting various anti-submarine warfare exercises including "Aswex V" which was prematurely terminated by the collision of the Essex (CV-9) and Nautilus (SSN-571). The ship then underwent predeployment overhaul.
On 10 January 1967, Wallace L. Lind departed the Destroyer and Submarine Pier, Norfolk, and commenced a Mediterranean tour. During the eastward transit, Lind had a unique experience in anti-submarine warfare practice. The highlight of the cruise came when, after 25 hours of continuous tracking, the officers and crew of the destroyer, in coordination with other forces, successfully surfaced a Soviet "Foxtrot" submarine off the Straits of Gibraltar on 21 January.
The ship visited ports in Italy, Spain, and France before steaming from Naples on 30 March to rendezvous for Operation "Dawn Clear 67," a combined exercise with the NATO forces. Wallace L. Lind also participated in Operation "Spanex 1-67," an exercise with the Spanish Navy, and Operation "Fair Game V" with the French Navy. On 11 May, the destroyer began the journey home and arrived at Norfolk on 20 May 1967.
After several weeks of type training, the ship spent July, August, and September taking part in ASW Exercise "Fixwex Golf 67"; Operation "Lash Out," a NATO exercise which simulated an attack on the east coast; as well as various other exercises and tender availability. On 3 October, Wallace L. Lind arrived at the Boston Naval Shipyard to have a special sound source installed in place of the variable depth sonar. She then headed for the Bahama Islands to take part in Operation "Fixwex I," an exercise designed to measure submarine and task group noise levels. The destroyer spent the remainder of 1967 undergoing availability and in leave and upkeep. During this period, the special sound source was removed, and the ship was returned to her original configuration.
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