She continued operations in the San Diego area until she entered the Long Beach Naval Shipyard in March for a post-shakedown availability which was completed in early May.

She continued to operate in her home port area and participated in Fleet Exercise "Range Bush" off the coast of southern California during the period 18 through 24 November 1965.

After an eight-day visit to Sasebo, Japan, Worden departed on 1 March and returned to the Gulf of Tonkin to assume plane-guard duties for the aircraft carrier Ranger.

Worden conducted operations in the Gulf of Tonkin until 17 June when she completed her commitment and proceeded to Yokosuka, Japan, for a short upkeep period prior to the return trip to California.

[2] January 1967 was spent providing services for continued missile tests, and the frigate remained in port during February, training and preparing for an upcoming deployment.

On 14 May, the ship reached Danang, South Vietnam, and served on a search and rescue station until mid-September with intermittent periods of upkeep and liberty at Subic Bay, Hong Kong, Sasebo, and Yokosuka.

During a visit to Hong Kong on 13 August, a Greek freighter lost control and rammed Worden on the starboard side inflicting minor damage.

With the exception of a dependent's cruise and an off-load of ammunition at Seal Beach, Worden remained in port at San Diego for the month of December and thus ended the year.

[2] After a brief tender availability, Worden departed San Diego en route to Subic Bay, Philippines, via Pearl Harbor, arriving on 22 November.

Three days later, the ship departed Subic Bay and became involved in a search and rescue (SAR) incident when a helicopter with nine Navy men on board ditched in the approach to the harbor.

After stopping at Keelung, Taiwan; and Subic Bay, Philippines; the ship returned to the northern SAR station, Danang, South Vietnam, on 25 January 1969.

In late August, Worden crew members learned the ship was to be permanently assigned to the 7th Fleet with a home port change to Yokosuka, Japan.

The frigate operated on the northern SAR station, then moved closer to the North Vietnamese coast off Thanh Hoa until 11 March when she proceeded back to her home port, Yokosuka, Japan.

After a month of operations off Japan and Okinawa in connection with amphibious Exercise "Golden Dragon", Worden moved south to help counter a North Vietnamese major offensive.

During the sweeping of Haiphong harbor, she functioned as Rear Admiral Brian McCauley's flagship as well as the helicopter support platform, the repair and logistic facility for the minesweeping units, and task force antiair warfare and surface defense.

Besides the inherent responsibility for aircraft control and identification and air surveillance, Worden functioned as search and rescue asset coordinator and platform for the pre-positioned helicopter.

Worden returned to Yokosuka on 7 April to begin a lengthy upkeep period in preparation for her representation of the United States at the Shimoda Black Ship Festival on 15 May.

Four days later, she joined Midway and steamed for northern Japan, conducting Operation "Command Diamond", a major Air Force and Navy exercise off Okinawa on 16 December.

On 3 January 1976, the cruiser sailed from Yokosuka, making port visits to Hong Kong; Okinawa; Pusan, Korea; and Sasebo, Japan; with exercises and task group operations held en route.

[2] In 1976 over 2/3 of the ship's company were either given Non Judicial Punishment or Courts Martials based upon questionable statements given to the Naval Investigative Service after a Seaman was faced with a drug possession charge.

[2] Worden's in-port period was marked by several inspections, an open house, plus visits from staff members of the 7th Fleet and officers of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force.

Worden returned to Yokosuka on 9 June for a brief four-day visit before joining carrier task group activities in the northern Philippine Sea.

She returned to Yokosuka, Japan, on 28 June for an in-port period which ended on 19 July with a three-week transit to Subic Bay with the Midway task group.

Due to three successive unsuccessful launch attempts by the Japanese antiaircraft training ship Azuma, the exercise was canceled, and Worden headed back to Subic Bay, Philippines, and a week of upkeep.

From 19 September to 2 October, Worden operated with Midway, after which time she conducted a two-day, combined antisubmarine warfare exercise with elements of the Republic of Korea Navy.

After several days at Pattaya Beach, Thailand, which the crew enjoyed, USS Worden headed back to Subic Bay, arriving on 20 February 1980, before returning home to Yokosuka in early March.

During the trip to Kenya, USS Worden conducted the traditional 'Wog Day' ceremony on 10 June 1980, with 230 crewmembers, including the ship's executive officer, Commander Arthur Newlon USN, crossing the equator for the first time, becoming Shellbacks in the eyes of King Neptune and Davy Jones.

After a relaxing six days in Kenya, USS Worden returned to the Gulf of Oman, resuming her role as Air Defence Commander on 22 June 1980, the cruiser continued to operate with the Eisenhower and Constellation Battle Groups before she again departed Gonzo Station on 6 July 1980, this time for good, steaming south east and arriving in Perth/Fremantle, Western Australia, at A Shed, Victoria Quay, Fremantle Harbour on 16 July 1980.

The "Dial a Sailor" lines were flooded with calls, the Chief Petty Officers were treated to a party at the naval base (HMAS Leeuwin) nearby.

[4] USS Worden departed Fremantle on 21 July 1980 and headed home to Japan, with a stop in Subic Bay, arriving at Yokosuka on 3 August 1980, ending her 1980 Indian Ocean deployment of 114 days.