[2] The ship deployed to South America and western Africa and participated in UNITAS XXI from 28 June 1980 to 12 December 1980.

[2] In 1986 the Pharris while assigned to the USS America (CV-66) battle group assisted in Operation El Dorado Canyon which commenced early on the afternoon of 14 April 1986.

[citation needed] During the 1987–1988 Mediterranean cruise, Pharris escorted Mighty Servant 2 carrying USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58) from the entrance of the Persian Gulf to about halfway up the Red Sea.

[2] On 8 February 1991, during a port visit in the Madeira Islands, two Canadian divers from HMCS Margaree drowned when they were sucked into the cooling intake of Pharris while conducting a hull search.

[8] In Tom Clancy's 1986 novel, Red Storm Rising, Pharris suffers extreme damage following a torpedo attack by a Victor III submarine (the bow forward of the ASROC mounts was torn off), warranting an extensive repair.