1970
The destroyer spent January and February 1970 conducting a brief excursion in the Virginia capes-Florida areas. She arrived back at Norfolk on 8 March for tender availability. After a series of delays, extensions, and standbys, Wallace L. Lind made a colorful arrival in Hawaii on 18 April, having transited the Panama Canal and visited San Diego.
Throughout May and June, the destroyer qualified as a naval gunfire ship and participated in "Comtuex," an exercise in anti-submarine and antiair warfare and all facets of destroyer seamanship. She then conducted ASW operations with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force submarine Michishio (SS-564) in preparation for "Aswex 1-70," a joint United States, Japanese, and British Commonwealth ASW exercise which lasted from 19 to 26 June. A period of tender availability followed.
On 12 August 1970, Wallace L. Lind sailed out of Pearl Harbor to commence deployment to WestPac. She arrived at Subic Bay, Philippines, on 27 August for type training and embarked COMDESDIV 252. The destroyer then made rendezvous with America (CVA-66) to act as a plane guard destroyer. From 14 to 17 September, Lind participated in antiair warfare Exercise "Beacon Tower" in the Gulf of Tonkin. On 21 September, she arrived at Okinawa for fuel and embarked a Beachjumper Unit. Two days later, the destroyer again made rendezvous with America for operations in the Sea of Japan, followed by upkeep at Yokosuka and Sasebo, Japan, where she debarked COMDESDIV 252.
On 19 October, Wallace L. Lind embarked three Japanese officers to act as observers for "ASWEX 5-70," a week-long exercise which got underway on 22 October. The destroyer arrived at Yokosuka, Japan, and underwent upkeep prior to departure for Taiwan on 9 November. After a brief Taiwan patrol and a stop at Subic Bay on 16 November, the destroyer got underway for "FIREX" and conducted typhoon evasion exercises.
On 28 November, Wallace L. Lind arrived at her station on the "Gunline" off the coast of South Vietnam. She conducted operations through 12 December when she departed for Hong Kong. Two days later, she arrived in the port of Hong Kong and relieved Vernon County (LST-1161) as SOPA.
Wallace L. Lind departed Hong Kong on 5 January 1971. The destroyer spent the month of January rotating plane guard duty among Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), Wainwright (DLG-28), Chicago (CLG-11), Hollister (DD-788), and Ranger (CVA-61). On 4 February, the destroyer performed amphibious operations off the coast of South Vietnam; then, on 11 February, she proceeded independently to Subic Bay, Philippines, to prepare for her return to Pearl Harbor. Lind arrived in Hawaii on the morning of 26 February 1971
During March and April, the crew enjoyed a well-earned rest, and the ship received some necessary repairs. The destroyer conducted various exercises in the Hawaiian operating areas throughout May and June. On 27 July, Wallace L. Lind departed Pearl Harbor for Portland, Oregon, her new home port. Upon her arrival on 4 August, the destroyer assumed a new mission as a Naval Reserve ship responsible for the training of inactive duty reservists from the western United States. By 31 August, Wallace L. Lind had completed her transition to the Naval Reserve Force and embarked upon a cruise to the Washington-Oregon coastal area which lasted through 10 September. One month later, the destroyer underwent tender availability at San Diego, returned to Portland one month later, and tied up at Swan Island where she remained through the close of 1971.
January, February, and March 1972 were spent undergoing repairs at Portland. On 25 March, Wallace L. Lind set to sea and conducted gunnery exercises off the coast of Washington, then sailed to San Francisco where she rearmed before returning to Portland. On 6 April, the destroyer got underway for Seattle, Washington, the first of six such trips that she would make in the next eight months. While in Washington, she attended the Daffodil Festival at Tacoma. Lind conducted a reservist training cruise to Pearl Harbor, arriving on 24 June. In August, the destroyer sailed north to Juneau, Alaska, for the Juneau Salmon Derby. She followed this trip with a transit of the Columbia River to the Astoria Regatta festival. During September, Lind’s only sea time was a three-day junket to Esquimalt, British Columbia, with her select reserve crew embarked for training purposes. On 24 October, she got underway for San Diego and a three-week availability. On 18 November, Wallace L. Lind set sail for her home port of Portland, where she remained for the rest of the year.
The last year of her commissioned service saw Wallace L. Lind become active in the recruiting effort as well as in her duties as a Naval Reserve training ship. From 9 to 25 January 1973, the ship underwent restricted availability in Portland, and it was discovered that drydocking was necessary to correct some hull problems. On 12 February, the destroyer entered dry-dock for a nine-day period. After re-arming at Bangor, Washington, she headed south and arrived at San Diego on 1 March. The destroyer conducted three days of local operations; then, along with James C. Owens (DD-776), cruised to Mazatlán, Mexico.
Wallace L. Lind returned to San Diego on 17 March and conducted a brief period of operations with a reserve crew. O n 26 April, the ship cruised to Anchorage, Alaska, to participate in a mass recruiting effort which included conducting ship's visits and a "Go Navy" cruise. After a final INSURV inspection in May, Lind remained berthed at her home port until she cruised to Vancouver, Washington, to participate in 4 July celebration.
On 1 August, Wallace L. Lind departed Portland for Hawaii. However, two days out of San Francisco, she developed engine trouble and limped back to port. On 17 August, the ship steamed out of San Francisco and returned to Portland.
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