USCGC Minnetonka ( WHEC - 67 ) USCGC " Minnetonka " ( WHEC - 67 ) was an " Owasco " class high endurance cutter built for World War II service with the United States Coast Guard . The war ended before the ship was completed and consequently " Minnetonka " did not see wartime service until the Vietnam war . " Minnetonka " was built by Western Pipe & Steel at the company ' s San Pedro shipyard . Originally christened " Sunapee " , she was renamed after Lake Minnetonka , Minnesota and commissioned as a patrol gunboat with ID number WPG - 67 on 11 July 1946 . Her ID was later changed to WHEC - 67 ( HEC for " High Endurance Cutter " - the " W " signifies a Coast Guard vessel ) . Peacetime service . " Minnetonka " was stationed at San Pedro , CA , from 20 September 1946 to 7 March 1951 . She was used for law enforcement , ocean station , and search and rescue operations in the Pacific . On 2 and 3 January 1951 , " Minnetonka " assisted MV " Keisin Maru " at 38°41 ’ N , 152°00 ’ E . From 23 to 15 January 1951 , she assisted MV " Oregon Mail " at 46°35 ’ N , 166°34 ’ E . From 7 March 1951 to 31 May 1974 , " Minnetonka " was homeported at Long Beach , California , and used for the same duties as listed above . On 8 September 1954 , she assisted FV " American " at 33°08 ’ N , 120°44 ’ W . From 6 to 8 May 1955 , she patrolled the Ensenada Race . On 24 August 1956 , she towed the disabled schooner " Atlantic " to Kodiak , Alaska . On 8 November 1957 , she searched for the Pan - American stratocruiser " Romance of the Skies " between San Francisco and Honolulu . 19 bodies were recovered on the sixth day of the search . On 8 July 1959 , " Minnetonka " towed the disabled FV " Ruth K " to Long Beach , California . On 17 and 18 December 1959 , she assisted MV " Guam Pioneer " at 31°23 ’ N , 124°37 ’ W . On 28 and 19 August 1961 , she towed the disabled FV " Alaska Reefer " to Port Townsend , Washington . On 11 and 12 February 1962 , she assisted FV " Western Fisher " . " Minnetonka " served on reserve cruise from 10 to 13 August 1962 . On 30 July 1967 , " Minnetonka " rescued six people from FV " Sea Boy " off California . Vietnam war . " Minnetonka " was assigned to Coast Guard Squadron Three , Vietnam , from 5 January to 29 September 1968 . On the night of 29 February / 1 March , she forced an enemy trawler , attempting to resupply the Viet Cong near Qui Nhon , to abandon its mission . During her 305 day deployment , the Minnetonka was called in for 51 Naval Gunfire Support ( NGFS ) missions to support both U . S . and Vietnamese troops ashore . She fired a total 4 , 684 rounds of 5 " / 38 ammunition , consisting of high explosive , white phosphorus , and illumination projectiles during these missions . The Minnetonka had 49 Underway Replenishments , receiving food , ammunition , mail , and personnel during her deployment to Southeast Asia . She steamed total of 59 , 685 miles , leaving Long Beach , CA on 17 December 1967 and returning on 17 October 1968 . Return to peacetime service . After her stint in Vietnam , " Minnetonka " returned to peacetime service until her decommissiong a few years later . A fatal accident occurred on 20 June 1972 . One person was killed and two were seriously injured when a hot - water heater exploded while the cutter was in Long Beach . Decommissioning . " Minnetonka " was decommissioned on 31 May 1974 and was laid - up at the U . S . Coast Guard Base , Alameda , California until she was scrapped two years later .