 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - TF 38 yakabudiswa musi wa 30 December, nokuda kwezvaizoshanduka kuva kurwisa kweSouth China Seainonzi Operation Gratitude. Achibhururuka mumakungwa kumaodzanyemba kweFormosa uye kuchamhembe kweLuzon, Philippines, Wilkes-Barre akabatsira kufukidza kufukidzwa kwevatakuri apo ndege dzinotakura dzakarova zvinangwa paFormosa neLuzon mukati me3 kusvika ku9 January, kuderedza ngozi yekurwiswa kwemhepo pakupinda kweLuzon. Musi waJanuary 12, Wilkes-Barre uye CruDiv 17 vakagoverwa seTG 34.5, kuti vabate nezvikepe zvehondo zvevavengi zvakashumwa kubva kuCam Ranh Bay, French Indochina. Zvisinei, ndege dzokutsvaka dzakabva kumacruiser hadzina kuwana chiratidzo chomuvengi uye CruDiv 17 yakadzokera kuTF 38. 