Upon receiving her commission, "Iris" was assigned to the 8th Coast Guard District and homeported in Galveston, Texas where she was used for general ATON duties through the end of the war. In April 1947, she assisted with evacuating the injured from the Texas City disaster in which carrying ammonium nitrate exploded. After assisting with evacuations, "Iris" returned to the scene to assist with fighting the numerous fires that had spawned. In April 1989, she responded out to the Exxon Valdez oil spill and assisted with the clean up of Prince William Sound. In 1997, she was transferred to the Maritime Administration.