"Cushing" sailed from Norfolk, Virginia on 5 May 1944, for training at Naval Stations San Diego and Pearl Harbor, then escorted a convoy to Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands, before returning to Naval Station Bremerton, Washington for an upgrade to her anti-submarine equipment. She joined the 5th Fleet at Eniwetok on 24 August 1944 to sortie for the invasion of the Palau Islands. She screened the Aircraft carriers during their strikes on Mindanao, Samar, Cebu, and Negros in the Philippines, then supported the ground forces in the Battle of Angaur on 17 September 1944. She returned to the carriers' screen for raids on Formosa (now Taiwan), Manila, and northern Luzon. These efforts neutralized Japanese bases for the scheduled invasion of the Philippines, and resulted in the rescue of numerous downed aviators. Her anti-aircraft fire accounted for at least one Japanese plane during the heavy air attacks of 24 October in the epic Battle for Leyte Gulf. She returned to replenish at Ulithi Atoll in the Caroline Islands on 22 November 1944.