Vietnam War
During January 1968, Wallace L. Lind participated in Operation "Springboard" in the Caribbean. The exercise was completed on 6 February; and, upon her return to Norfolk, the destroyer provided pro-submarine services for SUBLANT, followed by an extended period of availability and pre-deployment preparations.
The ship began an eight-month distant deployment on 9 April by steaming out of Norfolk for the Western Pacific (WestPac) via the Panama Canal. After stopping at Pearl Harbor and Guam, she reached Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, on 20 May. Five days later, Wallace L. Lind headed toward the Gulf of Tonkin acting as screen command for America (CVA-66). Upon arrival, she assumed duty as screen commander and plane guard destroyer for Ticonderoga (CVA-14), and also joined Enterprise (CVAN-65) for more plane guard duty. After a brief period of leave on 1 July she returned to her station in the Gulf of Tonkin and served as plane guard for Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31), relieved Steinaker (DD-863) as southwest AAW picket, and again operated with Ticonderoga.
From 17 July through 9 October, the destroyer took three turns on the "Gunline" off the DMZ. During this period, she visited Subic Bay and Hong Kong for liberty. Departing the "Gunline" on 9 October, Wallace L. Lind stopped at Yokosuka, Japan, and made preparations for the return voyage across the Pacific. She arrived at Norfolk on 27 November 1968, and finished up the year in a period of leave, upkeep, and post-deployment repairs.
The year 1969 was devoted almost entirely to maintenance and training. On 27 January, Wallace L. Lind reported to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia., for regular overhaul which was completed on 10 June. The vessel spent a month in Norfolk preparing for "Project X-SI"; and on 24 July, she set course for San Juan for testing her new additions. The destroyer returned to Norfolk for the final evaluation of the project on 14 August. On 17 September, the ship arrived at Guantanamo for refresher training which lasted through 20 November. During the month of October, Wallace L. Lind’s home port was changed to Pearl Harbor effective on 1 January 1970.
Read more about this topic: USS Wallace L. Lind (DD-703)
Famous quotes related to vietnam war:
“No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now.”
—Richard M. Nixon (b. 1913)