Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Achibva kuNorfolk, Virginia musi wa9 October 1943, "Cotten" akasvika kuPearl Harbor musi wa31 October. Pano akabatana 5th Fleet, uye musi 10 November sortied nokuda nechisimba Gilbert Islands, vachiongorora vatakuri chokufambisa kupa mhepo rutsigiro uye patroling pamusoro pemvura kure Tarawa. Achidzokera kuPearl Harbor musi wa7 Ndira 1944, akafamba nechikepe neFast Carrier Task Force (ipapo TF 58, gare gare 3rd Fleet's TF 38) musi wa16 Ndira nokuda kwekurwisa ndege kuMarshalls musi wa29 na30 Ndira. Yakavakirwa paMajuro, "Cotten" yakabatanidzwa muTruk raid ye16 na17 February; yakatsigira
vakamhara paEmirou Island; uye vakaongorora vatakuri sezvo vakatanga kurwisa Palau, Yap, Ulithi uye Woleai pakati pa 30 March na 1 April. Achienderera mberi nekuongorora kwake, akabatana mukufukidza kushanda kweHollandia kubva musi wa 21 kusvika 24 Kubvumbi uye kurwisa kwemhepo paTruk, Satawan, nePonape pakati pa 29 Kubvumbi na 1 Chivabvu.