[4][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 Garnet included a steel hull for durability and an aluminum superstructure and longitudinally framed construction was used to save weight.

[4][5][9][10] After delivery in 1961, Point Garnet was assigned a homeport of Norfolk, Virginia, where she served as a law enforcement and search and rescue patrol boat.

[4] 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 Garnet was loaded onto a merchant ship, and transported to Subic Bay, Philippines arriving in May 1965 where she was refitted for combat service.

The original Oerlikon 20 mm cannon was replaced with a combination over-under .50 caliber machine gun/81mm trigger fired mortar that had been developed by the Coast Guard for service in Vietnam.

After sea trials, the Division left Subic Bay for An Thoi on 17 July 1965 in the company of USS Floyd County, their temporary support ship.