 During the war "CD-43" was mostly busy on escort duties.On 12 January 1945, off Cape Paderan in the South China Sea (), "CD-43" was strafed by aircraft from the "USS Lexington (CV-16)", "USS Hancock (CV-19)" and "USS Hornet (CV-12)" which were then part of Vice Admiral John S. McCain, Sr.'s Task Force 38 that had entered the South China Sea to raid Japanese shipping.29 of her crew were killed and the steering compartment flooded.