On 4 January 1967, DESDIV 232 transferred his flag to USS EPPERSON (DD 719) and DESRON 25 broke his flag aboard BENNER. The weather had deteriorated during this period and both BENNER and the MADDOX (DD 731) who had joined the patrol roiled heavily in the swells and were forced to rely heavily on radar due to the decreased visibility.

On the morning of 6 January, BENNER drew first blood when she fired upon three small logistic craft, which were visible only when they rode the crest of a swell; one craft received heavy damage from a direct hit airburst. On the next afternoon, the ship fired on an aircraft battery that had fired at friendly aircraft; after a 10-round fire for effect, aircraft reported that the battery was effectively destroyed.

Until the twenty-fifth when the ship entered Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, she conducted one shore bombardment mission and on two more occasions fired on logistic craft. Before departing the Philippines on the 31st for Hong Kong, the ship was dry docked in AFDM-5 and conducted Naval gunfire support practice at Tabones. Arriving in Hong Kong on the second of February, the crew was granted a well-deserved liberty.

The eighth of February saw the BENNER once again pointing her prow toward another Sea Dragon patrol, which proved relatively uneventful with the firing of 7 missions at various targets and the sinking of 3 waterborne logistic crafts by the 25th of February.

However as of 26 February, the tempo of operations increased when BENNER joined up with USS CANBERA (CAG-2) and USS STRAUSS (DDG-16) for the first naval bombardment of the North Vietnamese coast. During that day, the BENNER fired 7 missions, two of which were counter battery received 116 enemy rounds close aboard, was straddled twice by fire from Hon Matt Island, and, in turn, was credited with silencing an enemy coastal battery of approximately 18 guns.

The next week proved equally exciting, and by the sixth of March when detached BENNER showed the enemy the true temper of the sword upon her crest. During this period the ship fired 1,281 rounds of 5-inch ammunition while conducting 36 fire missions and 8 counter battery fire missions.

Leaving Sea Dragon the ship entered Sasebo, Japan, for a two-week tender availability. Upon completing minor repairs in Sasebo, the ship left for a period on Taiwan Patrol and was based out of Kaohsuing, Taiwan. Completing her patrol, the ship started the long trip homeward, which was culminated by her return to Long Beach on 12 May after short in-port stays at Yokosuka, Midway Island, and Pearl Harbor.

From 12 May to 12 June, BENNER remained in Long Beach while her crew enjoyed a well-deserved rest and leave period. However, by 12 June 39 NROTC Midshipmen had been embarked for their summer cruise and BENNER got underway for a two-month cruise as part of the Pacific Midshipmen Training Squadron. Besides port visits to San Francisco, Pearl Harbor and San Diego, a rigorous school of the ship was provided for the Midshipmen.

During the last part of 1967, BENNER stood out to sea for local operations during the periods 11 to 15 September, 2 to 6 October, on a composite training exercise with USS RANGER (CVA-61), 1 to 3 November, 7 to 12 November, as rescue plane guard destroyer for USS TICONDEROGA (CVA-14). While with the TICONDEROGA, BENNER participated in a Search and Rescue mission when an A-4 Sky hawk and F-4 Phantom from the carrier collided in midair on 9 November. As a result, one pilot and several pieces of wreckage were recovered.

Before the Christmas season, BENNER again went to sea from 27 to 28 November, and 4 to 7 December, and successfully completed her Naval Gunfire Support Qualifications.

BENNER was sent to Washington Shipyard until April 1975, when it was sold for scrap 18 April 1975, to the General Metals Co. of Tacoma, Washington.