In 1951, owing to the Korean War and the ensuing requirement for more warships in service, "Benham" was recommissioned at Long Beach, California, on 24 March 1951, Commander Allen P. Cook in command. After steaming to the east coast, by way of the Panama Canal, she underwent an extensive overhaul at the Boston Naval Shipyard. Among other modernization efforts, her old 40-millimeter guns were replaced by newer guns—thought to be more capable against jet aircraft. Assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, with her home port at Newport, Rhode Island, the destroyer conducted shakedown operations and training exercises along the east coast for the rest of that year.