"Fletcher" returned to Pearl Harbor on 9 December 1943, and after a brief overhaul and training on the west coast, was ready for the attack on the Marshall Islands. She screened a force of troop transports from San Diego to Lahaina Roads from 13–21 January 1944, then joined a bombardment group to fire on Wotje Atoll 30 January. The next day, she rendezvoused with the main attack force for the landings on Kwajalein, screening the transports and patrolling off the atoll until 4 February. After escorting empty transports to Funafuti, "Fletcher" reported at Majuro 15 February for duty screening battleships in bombardments of Taroa and Wotje on 20 February and 21 February, then patrolled off Eniwetok.