At the beginning of 1969, FIRM was part of a newly reorganized division. Mine Division 72 was composed of FIRM, USS EXCEL (MS0-439), USS EMBATTLE (MSO-434), and USS LOYALTY (MSO-457). MINEDIV 72 was Commanded by Gilbert E. SCHMIDT, CDR, USN in FIRM as his flagship. .FIRM was commanded by Norman G. MOSHER, LCDR, USN, and was preparing to enter Fellows and Stewarts Shipyard for a restricted availability.

On January 24th FIRM entered Fellows and Stewarts civilian shipyard to commence a three month RAV. On April 23rd FIRM completed her overhaul and returned to Pier 9.

The following day she put to sea in order to hold burial services for the cremated remains of LCDR George Richardson PAWN, USNR (RET), and PHC Claude Elsworth AMES, USN (RET).

On April 25th FIRM and LOYALTY commenced MCM Refresher Training. At the completion of MCM Refresher Training on May 8th, FIRM had received an overall average of 75.5.

Following MCM Refresher Training, on May 14th, FIRM began a two-week refresher training in San Diego. During this time she was graded in Engineering, Damage Control. Medical, Navigation, Communications. Gunnery, Deck Evolution’s. and Combat Information Center. FIRM received a average grade of 72.9 on the final battle problem, with a grade of out­standing in Gunnery.

A pre-deployment Maintenance Material Inspection/Pre-deployment Inspection was conducted on 4 & 5 June by MINEFLOT THREE inspectors. FIRM received an overall grade of 82.2, and was considered ready to deploy.

At 1000 on 16 June, FIRM, together with GALLANT, LOYALTY, and EXCEL, departed Long Beach for extended operations in the Western Pacific as a unit of the U. S. Seventh Fleet.

MINEDIV 72 arrived in Pearl Harbor on 26 June for two days upkeep and briefing period. While in Pearl Harbor, the officers and men of FIRM were briefed on all aspects of her upcoming deployment. On 28 June, MINEDIV 72 departed Pearl Harbor enroute Guam, M.I., with intermediate fuel stops at Johnston Island and Kwajalein Atoll.

Johnston Island was reached at 0800 on July 1st and the ships departed six hours later after refueling. On July 7th at 1000 MINEDIV 72 arrived at Kwajalein Atoll and departed at 1630, enroute Guam, M.I.

On July 14th FIRM and the other three ships of MINEDIV 72 arrived at Guam, M.I. FIRM commenced a 15-day upkeep period. On July 30th FIRM and GALLANT departed Guam enroute Subic Bay, R.P. (LOYALTY and EXCEL had been detached earlier to proceed to Subic Bay for refueling and subsequent relief of MINEDIV 91 ships on station in the combat zone). On August 6th FIRM and GALLANT arrived in Subic Bay for upkeep. After eight days upkeep, FIRM transited to Sangley Point, R.P. for a two-day mine refresher training with the Philippine Navy’s coastal minesweeper 55. The exercise was conducted on the 18th and 19th of August. Upon completion of exercises with the Philippine minesweeper, FIRM returned to Subic to comp­lete her upkeep.

On September 2nd FIRM departed Subic Bay enroute to her first patrol. At 0515 on 5 September FIRM arrived in the combat waters of South Vietnam. At 1630 of the 5th FIRM relieved USS LOYALTY (MS0-457) as Market Time Patrol ship in area 6B, RVNU.

On October 4th, after 30 days on patrol, FIRM was relieved by USS EXCEL (M50-439). and headed for Subic Bay for upkeep. During the first patrol FIRM had conducted 10 underway replenishments with oilers and two rendezvous with supply ships. In addition, FIRM inspected 303 junks of which four were physically boarded and searched and sonar-searched for a sunken barge off the southern tip of South Vietnam. FIRM arrived in Subic Bay on 7 October and commenced one week’s upkeep period.

On 16 October FIRM departed Subic Bay arid headed south for Tacloban, Leyte. R.P. for the 25th anniversary cele­bration of the Leyte Gulf landing by General MacArthur’s forces during WWII. FIRM was the only U.S. warship present at the festival which was held on the 18th, 19th and 20th of October. The celebration included parades, dinner- dances, athletic competition between the crew of FIRM and local teams and a re-enactment of the Leyte Gulf Landing by The Phillipine Navy forces in which FIRM laid dan buoys and streamed minesweep gear. Upon leaving Tacloban, FIRM returned to Subic Bay through the narrow and dangerous San Juanico Straits, thus becoming the first minesweeper in 25 years and the first U. S. Navy ship in nearly that much time to go through the straits.

On October 22nd FIRM arrived back in Subic Bay and commenced a short upkeep. She departed Subic Bay, enroute to her second patrol on October 28th,

On 31 October FIRM arrived once again in the combat waters of South Vietnam and relieved USS LOYALTY (MS0-457) of her duties as DMZ Barrier Patrol Ship. During her second patrol, besides performing her routine patrol duties, FIRM sonar-searched for a downed helicopter near Da Nang and successfully located an anchor and anchor chain lost by the U. S. Hospital Ship REPOSE near Cua Viet. In addition, FIRM conducted 13 underway replenishments, many of which were made under adverse weather conditions.

It was during this second patrol, on 10 November, that Lieutenant Commander Norman G. MOSHER was relieved as Command­ing Officer of FIRM by Lieutenant John B. BONDS in Da Nang Harbor.

On December 5th, FIRM was relieved by USS LOYALTY (MSO-457) of her duties as DMZ Barrier Patrol Ship and departed the combat zone, enroute Subic Bay. She arrived in Subic Bay on 8 December and commenced upkeep in preparation for a Hong Kong visit and subsequent transit to Long Beach.

Delay in getting underway for Hong Kong due to a steer­ing motor failure resulted in cancellation of FIRM’s Hong Kong visit on 20 December. The remaining days before departure for Long Beach were spent in upkeep and prepara­tion for the transit.

At 1000 on 30 December, FIRM together with the other ships of MINEDIV 72, USS GALLANT (MS0-489), USS LOYALTY (MSO-457), and USS EXCEL (MS0-439), departed Subic Bay enroute Guam, M.I. and subsequently Long Beach, California.

FIRM was on her way home after again distinguishing herself in the Western Pacific operations. 100% of all scheduled operational commitments had been met. All departments on board had performed their jobs with enth­usiasm arid effectiveness. The Engineering Department proved themselves equal to all engineering difficulties, which included aligning a main engine at sea, in rough weather. The Operations personnel were all outstanding. CIC routinely operated at peak efficiency. Radio Central performed in a comparable manner, handling several thousand messages over the past year. The Deck Department performed UNREP’s at all hours, many in rough weather, showing both determination and excellence in seamanship. FIRM’s manning levels though sometimes reduced, was never a problem. The reenlistment rate for 1969 was 33%. The crew’s morale throughout the year and the deployment was excellent as indicated by a perfect record of conduct ashore.