On departing Subic Bay USS "Worden" headed for Thailand, but during the transit on 10 February 1980 she came across a fishing boat in distress; on board were 33 Vietnamese refugees, who were brought aboard USS "Worden", after which the fishing boat was destroyed by USS "Worden", which continued to Thailand to drop off the refugees, then continue her deployment. After several days at Pattaya Beach, Thailand, which the crew enjoyed, USS "Worden" headed back to Subic Bay, arriving on 20 February 1980, before returning home to Yokosuka in early March. USS "Worden" sailed with the Midway Battle Group in mid March to Sasebo, Japan, then back to Yokosuka on 23 March, where the crew prepared for their Indian Ocean deployment.