"Foote" put to sea on 19 December to guard a convoy to Mindoro, which was attacked several times by "kamikazes". The destroyer splashed at least one of these, as well as rescuing survivors from two LSTs which were hit. Returning to Leyte on 24 December, she prepared for the Lingayen invasion, for which she sailed screening amphibious forces on 4 January 1945. Before the landings of 9 January, she fired in several enemy air attacks, and bombarded the beaches. After a fast voyage to Leyte to escort a resupply convoy, "Foote" took up screening and patrol duty in Lingayen Gulf until returning to Leyte 31 March.