"Alex Diachenko" entered service in the final year of World War II, and was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. She sailed from Norfolk, Virginia, Virginia, on 31 January 1945, stopping at San Diego, Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, and Ulithi—being renamed USS "Diachenko" on 1 March 1945 while on her voyage—before arriving at Leyte on 21 March. She transported troops during the reoccupation of the Philippines. She landed soldiers at Legaspi, Philippines on 1 April and Police Harbor on 17 April. She arrived at Morotai, Indonesia on 7 May and transported Australian soldiers for the upcoming invasion at Brunei Bay, Borneo. She returned to Morotai, and on 26 June she set sail to land troops in the assault of Balikpapan, Indonesia on 1 July.