At the work's conclusion, "Barnwell" embarked over 1,800 troops and took on a cargo of 15,000 mailbags. Underway on 14 July, "Barnwell" proceeded via Eniwetok and Ulithi to the Philippines. After delivering passengers and mail to both Guinan Harbor on Samar and Tacloban on Leyte, the attack transport sailed for the Admiralty Islands on 10 August. She reached Manus on the 14th and, while disembarking the rest of her troops there, received word of the war's end. Departing Manus on the 16th, she touched briefly at Ulithi before continuing on to New Caledonia. At Noumea, she took on more cargo and embarked part of a Construction Battalion (or "Seabee"). Early in September, she picked up the rest of the "Seabees" and their gear at Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides. From there, the attack transport set sail for the Philippines. At Lingayen, she embarked an Army medical unit bound for occupation duty in Japan. She then set sail for Sasebo on 20 September.