[2][6] 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.

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

[2][5][9][10] After delivery in 1961, Point Clear was assigned a homeport of San Pedro, California, where she served as a law enforcement and search and rescue patrol boat.

[2] 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.

[11][12] While the crew completed overseas training and weapons qualifications at Coast Guard Island and Camp Parks, California, Point Clear was loaded onto a merchant ship, and transported to Subic Bay, Philippines in May 1965 where she was refitted for combat service.

[17] Point Clear was credited with helping stop the overrun of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam outpost at Hà Tiên[18] on 20 October 1965 by firing her machine guns and lobbing mortar rounds near the perimeter of the compound.

[19] On 14 February 1966, Point Clear came to the rescue of a U.S. Navy Patrol Craft Fast (PCF) which had been sunk by a command detonated mine in shallow water near Rạch Giá.

[20] She provided covering fire with machine guns and the 81 mm mortar while Navy personnel from other PCFs evacuated the injured and recovered bodies and equipment from the wreckage.