Yankee Station
On her last cruise in 1970, "John A. Bole" participated with Destroyer Squadron 21 in Naval Gunfire Support operations off the coast of Vietnam and also as a unit of the fast carrier attack group at Yankee Station. The destroyer left San Diego for her final Westpac cruise on 5 January 1970. On 2 February, the destroyer joined the task group (TG 77.6) in the South China Sea. From 6 to 19 February, "John A. Bole" conducted plane guard duties and screened "Ranger" in the Tonkin Gulf at Yankee Station. From 21 to 26 February the destroyer visited Hong Kong. From 3 to 15 March the ship provided naval gunfire support off the coast of South Vietnam. "John A. Bole"s gunfire support missions were in both NGFS Corp Area I and II (including numerous missions off the mouth of the Cua Viet River). On 16 March, the destroyer returned to the "Ranger" task group at Yankee Station. On 21 March the "Ranger" group sailed to Sasebo arriving 24 March. The destroyer remained in Sasebo until 12 April when she returned to Yankee Station with "Ranger". "John A. Bole" remained at Yankee Station until 24 April. From 24 April to 3 May the destroyer returned to providing naval gunfire support off the coast of South Vietnam. The vesselʼs gunfire support missions were again in both NGFS Corp Area I and II. From 5 to 12 May "John A. Bole" made another port call to Hong Kong. On 15 May, the destroyer joined the task group (TG77.4) at Yankee Station. "John A. Bole" stayed with the "Shangri-La" task group until 28 May when she sailed to Subic Bay for her first stop before returning to the United States. On 28 June the destroyer returned to her homeport Naval Station San Diego.