Her ability to refuel ships at a rapid rate increased the mobility of the United States Seventh Fleet as it operated in the Far East.

However, the show of strength by the United States averted a crisis, and, after completing refueling duties, the oiler arrived Pearl Harbor 23 November.

As military operations in Vietnam grew in intensity, her duty in the Orient concentrated more and more on refueling the Navy's ships which were fighting Communist aggression in Southeast Asia.

In addition to her normal petroleum products, Kawishiwi delivered over 290,000 pounds of fleet freight and mail, plus 234 passengers for ships in Vietnamese waters.

During this latest cruise, her sixteenth, under the command of Captain Donald M. Wyand, the Kawishiwi delivered 44 million US gallons (170,000 m3) of fuel to 196 ships.

In addition to her normal petroleum products, the Kawishiwi delivered over 250,000 pounds of fleet freight and mail, plus 200 passengers for ships in Vietnamese waters.

Additionally, a Military Detachment (MilDet) of approximately twenty sailors was aboard to handle communication and repair of electronic equipment.