Edson (DD 946) - Naval Cruise Book

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EDSON's fifth WESTFAC deployment began in January 1967. l-ler first mis- sion vvas the bombardment of enemy supply depots on the coast of North Vietnam as a unit of SEA DRAGON operations. In addition to her SEA DRAGON operations, EDSON also provided gunfire support for the 'First Division, Army of South Vietnam, and the Fifth U.S. Marine Regiment, in the Northern Area of South Vietnam. During one of these gun support missions, EDSON,took a direct hit from an enemy short battery and sustained ten minor personnel casualties. For her achievements during thiscruise EDSON was awarded the Secretary ofthe Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Rib bon. On 25 lVlarch 1968, EDSON departed once again for duty with the U.S. SEV- ENTH Fleet inthe Western Pacific. With most of this deployment being spent along the coast of Vietnam, her primary assignment was to provide Naval gunfire support for Allied Forces ashore in the Northern Corps area. By the time EDSON had completed this sixth deployment she had fired 23,000 rounds -on targets 'in both North and South Vietnam, had rescued a downed South Vietnamese Air Force pilot, and had been taken under fire by North Vietnamese.Artillery without being damaged, and had been named the VTOP GUN Destroyer in South Vietnam by the Naval Gunfire Spotters of the First Anglico Company, Fleet IVlarine Force. I EDSON was awarded a second lVleritorious Unit Commendation forher out- fl ,. f I - lu- n I .