Cika wannan jumla: Barin Pearl Harbor a watan Satumba, "Walker" aka canjawa wuri zuwa 7th rundunar jiragen ruwa a matsayin wuta goyon baya jirgin ga
mamayewar Philippines. Wannan rukuni na sufuri da masu hallaka sun tashi daga Manus kuma suka isa Leyte Gulf a ranar 20 ga Oktoba. A lokacin wannan aikin, "Walker" ya sami aikinsa na farko na iska kuma ya saukar da jirgin saman soja guda daya na abokan gaba da kuma bayar da tallafin bindiga a yankin Dulag. An sauke jigilar kayayyaki da sauri kuma suka tashi tare da "Walker" da sauran masu rakiyar kafin zuwan sojojin ruwan Japan da kuma yakin Leyte Gulf daga 24 zuwa 25 ga Oktoba 1944.