On 5 February 1960, BENNER entered the Long Beach Naval Shipyard for overhaul.

The overhaul period was completed on 2 June 1960, and BENNER commenced her underway training on 13 June 1960.

The training lasted six weeks and was followed by a midshipman cruise off the Southern California coast.

BENNER participated In the Annual Pacific Festival held in San Francisco 9-19 September 1960. The festival included a Fleet Review before CINCPACFLT, ADM John H. SIDES, USN.

On 27 September, BENNER, in company with USS PROVIDENCE and USS LARSON, departed on a West-Pac cruise, stopping in Pearl Harbor 3-5 October, and arriving in Yokosuka, Japan, 15 October, for a two-week voyage repair period.

Underway again on 31 October, BENNER, PROVIDENCE, and LARSON joined Task Group

77.6 for operations including Operation Treble Clef held off the coast of Japan during the first half of November. Ports visited included Kobe and Sasebo, Japan, and Buckner Bay, Okinawa. The ship spent Christmas Holidays in Sasebo from 19-27 December.

Upon leaving Sasebo, BENNER proceeded to Hong Kong. En route BENNER rescued a man overboard from the USS CHEMUNG (AO-30). The recovery was accomplished in three and one-half minutes despite the raging state of the sea. After leaving Hong Kong, BENNER operated with TG 77.7 and with elements of the British Far Eastern Fleet off the coast of troubled LAOS prior to arriving in Subic Bay,

Philippine Islands for a two-week tender availability from 18-31 January. Upon departing from Subic Bay, BENNER joined TG 77.6 and proceeded to Sasebo arriving 18 February 1961.

Upon completion of her scheduled deployment, BENNER returned to Long Beach on 31 March 1961. On 12 May 1961, during routine operations off the Southern California Coast, BENNER participated in an emergency rescue of six men and the recovery of their boat in heavy seas.

BENNER visited Monterey, California, on 4 July 1962, as celebrant of COMMODORE SLOAT DAY.

Early in August BENNER underwent an inspection by the Pacific Board of Inspection and Survey.

On 19 October 1961, CDR E. M. WILMARTH relieved CDR J. B. DRACHNIK as Commanding

Officer.

BENNER participated in the National Space Program, Operation BIOS I, (Biological Investigation of Outer Space), during the period of 5-24 November 1961, and was awarded the Pacific Missile Range Plaque of Appreciation.

During January 1962, BENNER participated in the First Fleet AAW exercise, "AIR GUN" and in February visited San Francisco, California, with CRUDESFLOT 3 during that city's GOLDEN FLEET FESTIVAL.

In March, BENNER sailed with the USS LARSON (DD 830) as a special task group to conduct cold-weather training in the Bering Sea, north of the Aleutian Island.

Late in May, the first Combat Units in Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla Three to be certified as Expert Combat Units were named aboard the BENNER. The Experts units were the crews of mounts 51 and 53 with their associated ammunition handling crews.

BENNER entered the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Long Beach, California, on 15 June 1962, to commence an eight-month DD 711 Class Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) MK II overhaul after which she will be configured primarily for antisubmarine warfare.

On 13 August 1962, BENNER transferred to the Little Beaver Squadron, DESRON 23, which the former CNO, ADM Arleigh Burke, led to fame in decisive battles around Guadalcanal during WW II. Also during August, BENNER's varsity softball team compiled a record of 17 straight victories to bring home the Eleventh Naval District National League Softball Championship Trophy.

The "R" was dropped from DDR (Radar Picket Destroyer) designation on 15 November, when BENNER officially became General Purpose Destroyer (DD) as a result of the FRAM Overhaul.