[2] Ready for sea on 15 December 1955, Widgeon, a unit of the Pacific Fleet Mine Force, sailed on 3 January 1956, for visits to San Francisco and Long Beach, California.

She conducted joint minesweeping operations and exercises with units of the Japanese, Republic of Korea, and Taiwan navies, and visited ports such as Kobe, Yokosuka, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Aburatsu, Beppu, Kochi, Tsushima, and Maisuru, Japan; Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Hong Kong; Buckner Bay; Subic Bay, Philippines; and Pohang and Koje Do, Korea.

Interspersed with her active training evolutions, the minesweeper underwent routine periods of upkeep and alterations and repairs at her home port of Sasebo.

During that time, Widgeon served with the Mine Countermeasures Ready Group and Coastal Surveillance Forces in combat operations off the coast of South Vietnam.

She maintained a consistently high standard of readiness that enabled her to assume assigned duties early or on very short notice, and she completed three stints on "Operation Market Time" patrol stations.

Throughout the repeated patrol extensions, "the continually outstanding performance, high state of morale, preparedness, and ingenuity of the officers and men of USS Widgeon attested to their exceptional team spirit and professionalism.

By their exemplary courage and dedication, they contributed significantly to the success of anti-infiltration efforts in the Republic of Vietnam and enhanced the reputation of the Mine Countermeasures Ready Group, thereby reflecting credit upon themselves and the United States Naval Service.

"[2] Ultimately, after 13 years of continuous service in WestPac operating areas, Widgeon sailed for the United States on 17 August 1969, in company with Catskill, Vireo, and Warbler.