The exchange was completed by mid-January, 1973, and "Proteus" resumed her duties. In 1974 personnel from the Ship Repair Facility at Naval Base Guam removed the remaining 5-inch gun turret and munitions as unnecessary for her primary mission - leaving only the four 20mm mounts as her main defensive weapons. When Saigon fell in 1975, some 100,000 Vietnamese fled their country and were processed by the U.S. on Guam. In a massive undertaking called Operation New Life, every able-bodied individual who could be spared helped provide facilities to care for the refugees. As part of that effort over 1,000 officers and men from "Proteus" worked with Seabee construction personnel to erect the refugee tent city at Orote Field on Naval Base Guam, leaving only a hand-picked skeleton crew of individuals aboard to see to her safety and security; as well as handle emergencies from the boats that were in. But for that week, "Proteus" was out of business as usual - for which the Secretary of the Navy awarded "Proteus" her second Meritorious Unit Commendation in 1975; and she (along with other participating Navy Units) were awarded the first award of the Navy Humanitarian Service Medal (established by Executive Order January 1977 for actions beginning 1 April 1975).