Vietnam  

The US Navy’s ocean going or “Deep water” ships were involved in the Vietnam War. Beginning with the USS Turner and USS Maddox and the famous “ Gulf of Tonkin Incident” through the evacuation of personnel at the US Embassy in Saigon to Air Craft carriers.  In the years in between Naval Ships provided much support and in addition air power from carriers.  

Buchanan and her crews took part in much of the war from the beginning.  Providing Naval Gun Fire support for ground troops, reconnaissance and attacks of areas north of DMZ, including taking part in Operations North of DMZ including  - Sea Dragon, Freedom Train, Line Backer I, Line backer II and the mining of Hai Phong Harbor. 

Providing navigation aid for aircraft in northern areas with TACAN guidance,  SAR stationing for radar early warning, air traffic control to direct air craft, stationed for  emergency recovery for any air craft that went down in hostile waters and plan guard for carriers at Yankee Station.   

Buchanan was the only deepwater USS war ship to have been hit twice by North Vietnamese artillery May 29, 1968 and April 17, 1972