Enemy air attacks plagued the force as it moved toward the assault area north of Mangarin Bay; but, on the 14th, Sage commenced minesweeping operations off the island and, early on the 15th, moved in toward White Beach to clear the way for the troops assigned to land near the Tubaong River. By mid-morning, she had recovered her gear and assumed covering duties for the smaller minecraft working in closer to the beaches. Later in the day, as the troops moved off the beaches and secured their objectives, she got underway to return to Leyte, where she prepared for her next invasion, Lingayen Gulf, on Luzon. On 2 January 1945, Sage departed Leyte Gulf. During the next three days, Japanese aircraft, kamikazes, swarmed over the Sulu Sea in an attempt to stop the Allied attack force. On the 6th, Sage reached her destination; and, at daylight, commenced sweeping in the gulf. Enemy aerial resistance continued and intensified. On the 8th, Sage was detached from sweeping duties and assigned to support YMS operations. On the 9th, troops streamed ashore at Lingayen and San Fabian; and., on the 14th, Sage cleared Lingayen Gulf to escort a convoy back to Leyte. Subic Bay operations She departed Leyte for Luzon again on the 25th. Three days later, she was at Mindoro; and, at 0358 on the 29th, she commenced sweeping approaches to landing areas on the southern Zambales coast. Within hours, Operation "Mike VII" had landed troops near San Antonio, San Narciso, and San Felipe to cut off a Japanese retreat into Bataan. In the afternoon, Sage shifted to the entrance of Subic Bay; conducted antisubmarine patrols there until the next morning; then moved into the bay for sweeping missions. On 4 February, Sage departed Subic Bay; returned briefly to Leyte; then sailed east to Guam; whence she set a course for Ulithi where she staged for Operation Iceberg, the invasion of the Ryukyus. By 20 March, she had left the western Carolines behind and was moving northwest with task group TG 52.4. From the 24th to the 31st, she helped clear the way for the forces approaching Kerama Retto and Okinawa. On 31 March and 1 April, she replenished at Kerama Retto; then, got underway to support the main assault force as it went ashore on Okinawa's Hagushi beaches. Patrol assignment On the 3rd, she added patrol operations to her duties; and, on