The year 1945 brought action off the invasion beaches with the U.S. 5th Fleet. "Melvin R. Nawman" screened the escort carrier as its planes bombed Japanese positions on Iwo Jima on 16 February (D day minus 3) until 3 March. With victory imminent the group retired to Leyte for redeployment off the beaches of Okinawa. In the intense action that followed the destroyer escort's guns shot down their first two planes near Kerama Retto on 2 April earning the Bronze Star Medal for two members of the crew. After a month on station the ship returned to escort duty centered around Guam. In the final stages of the war in the Pacific 47 consecutive days were spent at sea screening aircraft carrier task forces operating off the east coast of Japan before retiring to Guam.