 Arriving in the New Hebrides just after the landings on Guadalcanal, it supported operations in the Solomons with repair and salvage work at Espiritu Santo, Nouméa, Tongatapu, and Suva, as well as under battle conditions at Tulagi, Guadalcanal, and Rennell.Towing assignments during those operations took the boat throughout the island groups of the South Pacific, and once in late November-early December 1942 to Sydney, Australia.The "Navajo" was awarded a battle star for its salvage operations between 8 August 1942 and 3 February 1943 — a unique honor for a fleet tug.