During World War II, two of the ships, Arthur Middleton and George Clymer, served almost exclusively in the Pacific Theatre, taking part in many of the Navy's island hopping campaigns.

Samuel Chase, however, was assigned to the European Theatre, where she participated in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Normandy, before transferring to the Pacific to take part in the final Battle of Okinawa.

Immediately after the war the three ships of the class were assigned to transporting troops to occupation duties in newly conquered Japan.

They were then assigned to Operation Magic Carpet, the huge sealift organized to return demobilizing servicemen to the United States.

She was finally retired on 31 October 1967, having provided the Navy with 26 years of continuous service and accumulated an impressive fifteen battle stars.