USS Parsons ( DD - 949 ) USS " Parsons " ( DD - 949 / DDG - 33 ) began her career as a " Forrest Sherman " - class destroyer of the United States Navy . She was named in honor of Rear Admiral William S . Parsons ( 1901 – 1953 ) , who worked on the Manhattan Project during World War II . " Parsons " ' keel was laid down 17 June 1957 by Ingalls Shipbuilding of Pascagoula , Mississippi . She was launched on 17 August 1959 , sponsored by Mrs . William S . Parsons , and commissioned 29 October 1959 at Charleston , South Carolina with Commander W . R . Loomis in command . History . After shakedown , " Parsons " reported to her home port , San Diego , California , and commenced operations with the First Fleet in February 1960 . In October she deployed to the Western Pacific with Seventh Fleet units . She returned to resume West Coast operations in July 1961 and entered the Long Beach Naval Shipyard on 6 October for major improvements in her communications and antisubmarine warfare ( ASW ) equipment . She then rejoined the First Fleet in extensive coastal training from January to November 1962 , deployed for her second WestPac tour in November , and returned in July 1963 to the California coast . Under the command of Cdr . Jack Jester , USN , during the summer and fall of 1963 she carried out AAW and ASW operations in the San Diego , California area . During November she escorted " Midway " ( CVA - 41 ) and " Hancock " ( CVA - 19 ) to the Western Pacific and returned to San Diego . " Parsons " continued her training and service operations alternately with First Fleet and Seventh Fleet until she was decommissioned at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard on 19 January 1966 . " Parsons " was one of four " Forrest Sherman " - class destroyers selected for conversion from all - gun destroyers to the new " Decatur " class of guided missile destroyer . The others were " Decatur " ( DD - 936 / DDG - 31 ) , " John Paul Jones " ( DD - 932 / DDG - 32 ) , and " Somers " ( DD - 947 / DDG - 34 ) . " Parsons " was assigned hull classification symbol DDG - 33 on 15 March 1967 , recommissioned 3 November 1967 , and assigned to the Cruiser - Destroyer Force , Pacific Fleet . Following shakedown she carried out a rigorous testing program for her missile systems , and in September 1968 she assumed duties as flagship for Destroyer Squadron 31 ( DesRon 31 ) and immediately deployed to the Western Pacific for operations with the Seventh Fleet off Vietnam . Interspersed with her aircraft carrier escort duties on Yankee Station , she conducted on - station training operations , assuming duties as ASW training coordinator ship with Commander Destroyer Squadron 31 ( ComDesRon 31 ) embarked . " Parsons " also visited Kaohsiung , Yokosuka , Hong Kong , Singapore and Sasebo . She returned to San Diego , California , on 12 May 1969 to resume operations from there and train for her next deployment . The conversion removed both of the after 5 in ( 127 mm ) 54 - caliber gun mounts and installed one AN / SPG - 51C Missile Fire Control System ( MFCS ) , one Mk . 13 Guided Missile Launching System ( GMLS ) , one Anti - Submarine Rocket ( ASROC ) system , and modified the Gun Fire Control System to accommodate an illuminator to provide a second missile capable Gun / Missile Fire Control System ( G / MFCS ) . The ship could then engage two air targets simultaneously ( one with each FCS ) using from two to four Tartar medium - range , less than 20 nautical mile ( 37 km ) missiles , depending upon the engagement policy in force ( Shoot - Look - Shoot or Shoot - Shoot - Look ) . The forward five - inch / 54 - caliber gun mount was retained as were the torpedo tubes . The 5 in ( 127 mm ) 54 - caliber gun was , nominally , a rapid - fire mount capable of firing over 30 rounds per minute at targets up to ranges of 12 nautical miles ( 22 km ) . The torpedo launchers each held three Mk46 torpedoes , for use only against submarines . The conversion created a unique ship , but one that never found a unique role . In the long run , one of the ship ' s best capabilities , convoy escort , was taken over by the " Oliver Hazard Perry " class . After conversion , " Parsons " was homeported in San Diego , California , from re - activation until late 1971 , when the ship , as part of Destroyer Squadron 15 ( DesRon 15 ) , was forward deployed to Yokosuka , Japan . As part of this movement , the families of all eligible crewmen were transported to Japan , where they lived in U . S . Navy Housing , located in both the Yokosuka and Yokohama areas . From December 1971 through December 1972 , " Parsons " provided support to forces afloat and ashore involved in the Vietnam War by operating as : " Parsons " left Vietnam for the last time on or around 19 December 1974 . On 29 October 1980 she rescued 111 Vietnamese refugees 330 miles south of Saigon . DDG operations ranged from Anti - Aircraft Warfare ( AAW ) to Anti - Submarine Warfare ( ASW ) to Anti - Surface Warfare ( SUW ) and Naval Gunfire Support ( NFGS ) and included , as necessary , Electronic Warfare ( EW ) . Fate . " Parsons " was decommissioned on 19 November 1982 . She was stricken from the Navy list on 1 December 1984 , and finally disposed of as a target on 25 April 1989 .