USS Guide (AM-447)
Joint naval exercises in the Philippines
Joint naval exercises in the Philippines
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*Guide* joined in combined mine warfare exercises with units of the [Philippine Navy](/wiki/Philippine_Navy "Philippine Navy") before setting course for the [Marshalls](/wiki/Marshall_Islands "Marshall Islands"), [Hawaii](/wiki/Hawaii "Hawaii"), and back to Long Beach, arriving 14 December 1965\. The minesweeper operated along the [U.S. West Coast](/wiki/U.S._West_Coast "U.S. West Coast") throughout 1966 and sailed for the Far East early in 1967\. On 1 March she was off the coast of Vietnam laboring to keep clear the shipping lanes which supply Allied fighters in that war\-torn land. She continued to perform this vital duty past mid\-year, reaffirming her right to the proud name *Guide*.


Why is it significant that the Guide operated along the US West Coast throughout 1966?