The new year dawned finding FIRM making preparations for its upcoming WestPac deployment. Stores, repair parts, and consumables were loaded and the degaussing range was run.

On 15 January 1965 Mine Division 72, with FIRM as its flagship, departed Long Beach for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the first leg of the division’s WestPac deployment. While in Hawaii, MinDiv 72 took part in Fleet Service Mine Test 3-65 off of the island of Maui from 26 to 30 January 1965.

Upon completion of the mine test, FIRM, along with, the other ships of MinDiv 72, pointed its bow toward the setting sun and Guam. While enroute to Guam, fuel stops were made at Johnston Island and Kwajalein Atoll, and extensive training was conducted in preparation for our forth-coming tour with the Seventh Fleet.

On reaching Guam, FIRM underwent a week of much needed voyage repairs and recreation for the crew. 26 February found FIRM once again at sea on a northerly course bound for Yokosuka, Japan, arriving 4 March 1965.

After a short week of rest and relaxation in Yokosuka, FIRM departed on 10 March and proceeded to Sasebo, Japan for its interim dry-docking and much needed extended upkeep period. While in Sasebo, the crew of FIRM heard of a small orphanage in Wakata, Japan, which was in dire need of assistance, Operated by an American missionary, this orphanage for unwanted children received only $28.OO a month from the Japanese government for the children’s care. The FIRM sailors immediately came to its aid by taking up a donation, This met with such success, and the heart warming gratitude of Mrs. Hudson, the missionary, that the crew decided to make the contributions a monthly occurrence.

While FIRM was in Sasebo Operation Market Time was instituted to curb the Communist infiltration of arms and other contraband into South Vietnam.

MinDiv 72 was quickly drawn into the operation and ordered South to do its part. Unfortunately FIRM’s repairs could not he completed in time to meet this unexpected situation thus requiring FIRM, in company with REAPER, to depart Sasebo two days behind the other ships of the division on 30 March 1965.

Upon arrival in Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, on 6 April, FIRM underwent one more week of upkeep and then sortied for her first patrol in Vietnamese waters.

Our first anti-infiltration patrol, the shortest of the three which we were to subsequently conduct, occurred early in the evolution of Market Time. As a result, unique experiences and other situations arose for which there were no established procedures or policies. This condition was soon remedied by constant vigilance and hard work by all associated with Market Time soon resulting in a well organized and trained force - trained to thwart attempts by the Viet Cong and other Communist factions of infiltrating arms, ammunition, personnel, and other contraband into South Vietnam.

It was on this first patrol that FIRM got its first glimpse of the vast multitude of fishing junks and other coastal traffic which ply the waters of Vietnam. With the aid of a Vietnamese liaison officer, junks were stopped, papers were inspected, and merchant traffic was carefully checked. In addition to these tasks, FIRM, along with other ships and aircraft in the immediate area, were called upon to conduct a search and rescue operation in an attempt to locate a sailor who fell overboard from the USS BLACK (DD-666), This operation proved unsuccessful after 12 hours of constant searching by all units and was finally terminated. Luckily, as FIRM found out later, the man had been rescued by a Vietnamese fisherman and was safe.

After 12 days on patrol, FIRM proceeded to Subic Say on 29 Apri1 for a short upkeep period. As with all of our transits to and from Vietnam, we constantly exercised at various drills and practiced minesweeping to keep our state of readiness at the highest possible point.

After a quick upkeep in Subic Bay, FIRM commenced its second and longest patrol - 36 continuous days at sea, This patrol was the highlight of our Market Time operation as we were assigned an area along the crucial 17th parallel. Being stationed close inshore, FIRM represented the only barrier against infiltration attempts along this critical stretch of coast between North and South Vietnam. Close liaison was maintained with the local Vietnamese Junk Force resulting in a well-coordinated patrol. FIRM along with units of’ the Junk force, maintained a constant day and night vigil on possible patterns of north - south movements and fishing activities. 4104 fishing junks were encountered in our 18 square mile area of which 67 were boarded and searched. As a result, the papers of 402 people were checked resulting In the detainment of 12 suspected Viet Cong, six of which proved to be confessed Viet Cong.

Many incidents occurred which gave the crew the realization of the proximity of armed conflict. One such incident; a Vietnamese PT boat came alongside FIRM re­questing medical assistance for an injured sailor wounded during a night encounter with a Communist force only a few miles north of us. Instances such as this, combined with the witnessing of constant air strikes inland, flares, muzzle flashes, and the echo of exploding bombs along the coast were constant reminders of the inherent dangers and our proximity to the bloody battle for Vietnam.

Our patrol had its human-interest side as well. One Friday, our patrol duties were interrupted as FIRM played host to thirty boy scouts and twenty students from a Roman Catholic high school located at Quang Tri, Vietnam. These youths were transported to FIRM by two junks from the local Vietnamese Junk Force, their only protection from the Viet Cong in this troubled and war torn land. When the boys departed It was hoped they left with a reassurance that the United States was there to help them in their struggle for freedom and would not desert them until that goal was obtained.

At yet another time, FIRM was called upon to render medical assistance to the local junk force and their families. The call was promptly answered when the ship’s hospital corpsman was dispatched to their aid. In two days 317 people were treated for everything from pregnancy and open wounds to indigestion and tuberculosis. At least 200 people had to he turned away as time ran short.

Our patrol was often interrupted by innumerable rendezvouses with oilers and other service ships to replenish our supplies as they were depleted by long and arduous days on station. These units of the Service Forces must be commended for their hard work for without them, Market Time forces would not have been able to carry out their mission.

Finally, after 33 days on station FIRM turned her bow eastward toward Subic Bay and a much needed upkeep period, arriving on 15 June 1965.

Leaving Subic Bay on 22 June 1965 FIRM proceeded to Hong Kong for a much-earned rest. The free port afforded all aboard an opportunity to completely relax and get some of that WestPac shopping done.

After a short five days FIRM once again put to sea on 1July l965 and proceeded south for her third and final patrol off of Vietnam. By this time the Coastal Surveillance Operation had grown out of its infancy and the rules of engagement had been modified, at the request of the Vietnamese government in Saigon, permitting the United States Navy to board and search merchant shipping in Vietnamese waters. This greatly increased the Navy’s capabilities of stopping infiltration and FIRM was more than eager to get started.

During this final patrol 51 merchant ships were inspected, of which 3 were physically boarded and searched by FIRM’s boarding party. We had the distinction of being the second ship in the Coastal Surveillance Operation to stop and board a steel hulled merchant chip. Of course, the ever present junks cannot be forgotten either. Sixty - eight junks were inspected, twenty-three of which were actually boarded and searched, many being the large cargo carrying type. On two separate occasions FIRM came to the rescue of stranded junks adrift in the open sea.

24 July 1965 was a special day for FIRM. That was the last day of patrol duties off of Vietnam. When FIRM’s relief ship came into view over the horizon the officers and men knew that four tiring, yet rewarding months, had come to an end. FIRM had done her part in the Coastal Surveillance Operation and done it well. Now it was time to turn it over to new ships and new crews.

Arriving in Subic Bay on 27 July 1965 FIRM underwent nine days of upkeep. During our stay the PRIME and EMBATTLE joined us. This was the first time since the first week in April that three ships of MinDiv 72 had been together in one place.

Prior to departing for Guam, FIRM was assigned one final test-using the unique sonar capabilities of an MSO to try and locate the anchor and cable of a ship, which had lost it in the harbor. For five hours a search was conducted in the reported area of the anchor. After marking three likely contacts FIRM returned to her berth and prepared for the upcoming sortie to Guam. Unfortunately the fruits of our labor were never learned since we departed the following morning, 6 August 1965, for Guam in company with EMBATTLE and PRIME.

We arrived in Apra Harbor, Guam, 12 August 1965, having conducted minesweeping and other exercises enroute. Now, for the first time in over four months the entire division, FIRM, EMBATTLE, PRIME, FORCE, and REAPER , were together in the same port at the same time.

Mine Division 72, with FIRM once again as its flagship, departed Guam an 19 August 1965 on the long voyage home. FIRM arrived in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 4 September 1965 after brief fuel stops at Kwajalien Atoll and Johnston Island, and an emergency diversion to Ponape Island to transfer a sailor from the PRIME with suspected appendicitis.

Departing Pearl Harbor on 7 September 1965, MInDiv 72 arrived in Long Beach, California 10 days later on 17 September 1965. The following leave and upkeep period was cut short by FIRM’s INSERV Inspection on 6 October 1965 in preparation for the upcoming overhaul period in early 1966.

The week of 1-5 November 1965 was devoted to type training and division tactics. After a short weekend in port FIRM, along with MinDiv 72 departed Long Beach on 8 November 1965 bound for Santa Rosa Island, to participate in Fleet Service Mine Test 2-66. Returning to port on 14 November 1965 FIRM remained until 17 November 1965 when she got underway to participate in MINEX RANGE BUSH, again off of Santa Rosa Island, with MinDiv’s 71 and 72.

FIRM returned to port at Long Beach on 23 November 1965 in time for Thanksgiving and commenced the holiday leave and upkeep period.

On 27 December 1965 the holiday leave and upkeep period terminated and FIRM got underway for the day to off load ammunition at NAD, Seal Beach, California and check range in preparation for the regular overhaul.