She arrived off Kwajalein as a unit of Task Force 51 (TF 51), 30 January 1944. During Operation "Flintlock", she screened transports and provided rapid close support fire. On 15 February the task force sortied from Kwajalein to Eniwetok Atoll for operation "Catchpole". "McCord" at first screened the minesweepers as they cleared the passages into the lagoon and then screened the bombardment group as Engebi Island, containing the atoll's only airfield, was secured, 17–18 February. On 21 February, she steamed back to the southern end of the lagoon for the bombardment of Eniwetok and Parry Island.