"Amycus" conducted shakedown training along the California coast before departing San Diego on 20 September 1943, and heading for the South Pacific to join the Service Forces of the US 7th Fleet. She made port calls at Pago Pago, American Samoa; Noumea, New Caledonia; Brisbane and Port of Townsville, Australia; and Milne Bay, New Guinea. On 29 November, the vessel arrived at Buna, Papua New Guinea where she joined Task Force 76 (TF 76). She remained at Buna until late April 1944, servicing and repairing small escort vessels and landing boats.