[5][7] Engine exhaust was ported through the transom rather than through a conventional stack and this permitted a 360 degree view from the bridge; a feature that was very useful in search and rescue work as well as a combat environment.

[8] The design specifications for Point Arden included a steel hull for durability and an aluminum superstructure and longitudinally framed construction was used to save weight.

[5] At the request of the United States Navy, in April 1965, she was alerted for service in South Vietnam and assigned to Coast Guard Squadron One in support of Operation Market Time along with 16 other Point class cutters.

[13][14] While the crew completed overseas training and weapons qualifications at Coast Guard Island and Camp Parks, California, Point Arden was loaded onto a merchant ship, and transported to Subic Bay, Philippines in May 1965 where she was refit for combat service.

After sea trials, the Division left Subic Bay for Da Nang on 16 July 1965 in the company of USS Snohomish County, their temporary support ship.

After almost two weeks at sea, they arrived at their new duty station on 20 July and began patrolling the coastal waters near Da Nang.

[13] On 10 March 1968, Point Arden was refueling from the U.S. Navy oiler USS Patapsco near Cửa Việt Base when Viet Cong mortar fire ignited some ammunition and flares on the ramp of the Naval Support Activity Detachment (NSAD).

The crew of the Point Arden were commended by the commander of Navy Task Group 115.1 for their firefighting efforts.