Early in February 1944, "Piedmont" stood out from Tampa, Florida, on her shakedown cruise. On 6 March she sailed for the Panama Canal, San Diego, and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Less than 24 hours after her arrival at Pearl Harbor, "Piedmont" had taken her first United States Pacific Fleet destroyer alongside. "Piedmont" remained at Pearl Harbor throughout the months of April and May during the feverish preparations for the Marianas campaign. At one time, "Piedmont" had seven destroyers alongside and was working on jobs for more than 50 other destroyers moored in the stream.