Nyora kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Muna 1942, "Ward" yakatumirwa kuWest Coast nokuda kwokushandurwa kuva chokufambisa chokukurumidza. Redesignated APD-16 muna February 1943, iye steamed kuSouth Pacific kushanda muna Solomon Islands nharaunda. Akabatsira kurwisa kurwisa kweJapan kunorwisa kweTulagi musi waApril 7, 1943, uye akapedza nguva yakawanda yegore iroro rakasara pakufambisa uye kutakura basa. Muna December, akabatanidzwa mukupinda kweCape Gloucester. Mukati memwedzi mipfumbamwe yokutanga ya 1944, "Ward" yakapfuurira basa rayo rokuperekedza nerokutenderera uye yakaitawo rutivi mukubhururuka kunoverengeka kweSouthwest Pacific, pakati pavo kurwisa Saidor, Nissan Island, Emirau
, Aitape, Biak, Cape Sansapor, uye Morotai.