Editing USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) (section)

===1965 to 1972===
[[File:A-6A VA-75 landing on USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) 1968.jpeg|thumb|left|An [[Grumman A-6 Intruder|A-6 Intruder]] from [[Second VA-75 (U.S. Navy)|VA-75]] traps aboard ''Kitty Hawk'' during her 1967-68 deployment to Vietnam]]
''Kitty Hawk'' was overhauled in [[Puget Sound Naval Shipyard]], then trained along the western seaboard. She sailed from San Diego on 19 October 1965, for Hawaii thence to [[U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay|Subic Bay]], Philippines, where she prepared for combat operations off the coast of [[Vietnam]].

''Kitty Hawk'' returned to San Diego in June 1966 for overhaul and training until 4 November 1966, when she again deployed to serve in waters of Southeast Asia. Scenes from the 1966 [[Walt Disney]] comedy ''[[Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.]]'' were filmed aboard the warship.

''Kitty Hawk'' arrived at Yokosuka, Japan on 19 November to relieve ''Constellation'' as flagship for Rear Admiral [[David C. Richardson (admiral)|David C. Richardson]], Commander [[Task Force 77 (U.S. Navy)|Task Force 77]]. On 26 November, ''Kitty Hawk'' departed Yokosuka for [[Yankee Station]] via Subic Bay. On 5 December, aircraft from ''Kitty Hawk'' began their around-the-clock missions over North Vietnam. About this time ''Kitty Hawk'' — already accustomed to celebrities as guests – entertained several prominent visitors: [[William Randolph Hearst Jr.]]; [[Bob Considine]]; [[Billy Graham|Dr. Billy Graham]]; [[Nancy Sinatra]] and [[John Steinbeck]], among others. She remained in the Far East, supporting the U.S. in Southeast Asia until departing Subic Bay on 28 May 1968. Steaming via Japan, the carrier reached San Diego on 19 June and a week later entered the [[Long Beach Naval Shipyard|naval shipyard]] at [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]] for maintenance. ''Kitty Hawk'' returned to San Diego on 25 August and began a rigorous training program to prepare her for future action.

''Kitty Hawk'' was awarded the [[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]] for exceptionally meritorious and heroic service from 23 December 1967 to 1 June 1968, which included the [[Tet Offensive]], while participating in combat operations in Southeast Asia, and the Navy Unit Meritorious Commendation for exceptionally meritorious service from 15 January 1969 to 27 August 1969 while participating in combat operations in Southeast Asia and contingency operations in Northeast Asia. Both awards noted that the officers and men of the ''Kitty Hawk'' displayed undaunted spirit, courage, professionalism, and dedication to maintain their ship as a fighting unit under the most arduous operating conditions to enable her pilots to destroy vital military targets in [[North Vietnam]] despite intense opposition and extremely adverse weather conditions.

While on deployment from November 1967 to June 1968, ''Kitty Hawk'' experienced a fire in while in port at Subic Bay and went to [[general quarters]] for 51 hours. On 16 January 1968 year, a [[Grumman C-1 Trader|C-1A Trader]] swerved off the wet deck. Four personnel aboard were lost along with the aircraft and could not be recovered.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency |url=https://dpaa-mil.sites.crmforce.mil/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000000BTkVEAW |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=dpaa-mil.sites.crmforce.mil}}</ref> After a deployment from November 1968 to June 1969, ''Kitty Hawk'' returned to San Diego for a month and then went to Puget Sound shipyard in September 1969 for dry dock.

On 12 October 1972 during the [[Vietnam War]], ''Kitty Hawk'' was en route to her station in the [[Gulf of Tonkin]] when [[USS Kitty Hawk riot|a race riot]] involving more than 200 sailors broke out. Nearly 50 sailors were injured in this widely publicized incident.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/r/report-by-special-subcommittee-disciplinary-problems-us-navy.html |title=Report by the Special Subcommittee on Disciplinary Problems in the US Navy |author=United States House Committee on Armed Services |date=2 January 1973 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=21 February 2019|author-link=United States House Committee on Armed Services }}</ref> This incident spread racial violence to other US Navy ships, such as the aircraft carrier [[USS Constellation (CV-64)|USS ''Constellation'']] and the replenishment ship [[USS Hassayampa|USS ''Hassayampa'']]. Tensions among the crews resulted in a Congressional inquiry into discipline in the Navy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Faram |first=Mark |date=2017-02-28 |title=Race riot at sea — 1972 Kitty Hawk incident fueled fleet-wide unrest |url=https://www.navytimes.com/military-honor/black-military-history/2017/02/28/race-riot-at-sea-1972-kitty-hawk-incident-fueled-fleet-wide-unrest/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=Navy Times |language=en}}</ref>