1944, the PCE-877 began its escort duties as Patrol and Escort, Central Pacific region, while still based at Naval Base San Diego. At 1200 hours on 11 September 1944, the PCE-877 officially was underway to Naval Station Pearl Harbor as part of Task Unit 116.1.2. The ship proceeded to the northern part of San Clemente Island, California where the crew "ran a measured mile to check the accuracy and adjust our newly installed DRT (Dead Reckoning Tracer)." At 1030 hours 19 September 1944, the PCE-877 arrived at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii for conversion to a Central Control Vessel for Amphibious Force. The Navy control groups were responsible for the control of the assault waves of landing ships, landing craft, and amphibious vehicles from the transport and landing ship areas to the landing beaches. From 20 September 1944 to 3 November 1944 the ship was docked at D.E. Dock #1 Pearl Harbor for the installation of radio and communications equipment. During this period, the crew "conducted various exercises and tests throughout month. All gun crews attended AA schools. Damage Control parties attended fire fighting school. AS/W attack team spent one day operating with tame submerging and attended attack teacher a total of 8 hours." Refitting was completed on 2 December 1944, and for six days the PCE-877 acted as Officer in tactical command (OTC) for a training group of control vessels between Pearl Harbor and Waianae, Hawaii. A second series of drills and exercises starting 18 December 1944 running nine days saw the PCE-877 acting as an Escort Commander for screening and as a Line of Departure Control Vessel in simulated landing operations. On 14 December 1944, Lieutenant Coleman H. Smith, USNR, was relieved as Commanding Officer of the PCE-877 by Lieutenant John R. Shea, Jr., USNR. Lieutenant James B. Brady, USNR was promoted to Executive Officer. (Lt. Smith would advance to the rank of Commander, and after the war was a long-serving director of the War Gaming Department at the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.) The PCE-877 participated in several additional exercises on 3 January 1945 (three days) and 11 January 1945 (eight days) as part of Administrative Command Amphibious Forces, US Pacific Fleet. The ship was ordered to move to mooring Easy 7 at Pearl Harbor for logistics and supply. Battle of Iwo Jima On 22 January 1945, the PCE-877 departed Pearl Harbor as part