The warships left Hong Kong on 11 November to take up station off the coast of North Vietnam again. On 18 November, the destroyer received orders detaching her from the "Bon Homme Richard" group for duty as an antiaircraft warfare (AAW) picket ship. After serving 22 days as an AAW picket, she rejoined the carrier group again on 10 December. The carrier launched air strikes during the following eight days; and then, on 18 December, the entire group shaped a course for Subic Bay and thence proceeded to Hong Kong for another five-day port call.