In 1965, however, America's increased involvement in the war in South Vietnam beckoned the transport toward a new theater of operations. After completing nine voyages to Bremerhaven and back between 16 January and 4 August 1965, "General Maurice Rose" departed New York on 14 August for transport duty to Southeast Asia. She sailed via Long Beach, and Pearl Harbor to Qui Nhon, South Vietnam, where she arrived on 14 September and began debarking troops and supplies. After departing Vietnam on the 19th, she steamed via Okinawa and the U.S. West Coast and reached New York on 18 October.