In December 1972, "Leonard F. Mason" participated in "Operation Linebacker II", together with several other Navy destroyers shelled various targets along the coast of North Vietnam. During one mission, "Leonard F. Mason" came under severe shelling from coastal batteries. The ship's starboard rudder was severely damaged from a round that exploded near the fantail. A chaff device misfired, streaming chaff instead of launching it away from the ship. This resulted in a bright trail on the screens of the coastal radar sites. Crew members reported hearing shell fragments hitting the hull numerous times.