They were meant to be able to stay at sea for long periods of time in any kinds of weather, and were able to expand berthing space via hammocks of the need arises, such as if a large amount of survivors were on board.

As the Second World War worsened, she was once again reassigned to the East Coast under the Eastern Sea Frontier (EASTSEAFRON) of the United States Navy.

Jackson joined the war effort by escorting vessels and convoys, conducting crew and ship rescues and serving in anti-submarine patrols.

[3] On 14 September 1944, Jackson was instructed to rendezvous with the cutter USCGC Bedloe and the tug USS Escape to assist in the towing of the Liberty ship SS George Ade which had been torpedoed by the German submarine U-518 and driven ashore in a storm.

Thirty seven crew members were able to successfully abandon ship, but the high winds and waves scattered survivors and repeatedly flipped rafts.

Ironically, the crew of Jackson believed they would soon be rescued by sister ship Bedloe, not knowing she sank two and a half hours after theirs in similar conditions.

Two crew members attempted to swim to shore ten miles (16 km) away, but gave up three hours later after negligible progress.

[4][5][6] At some point after sinking the ship broke in two, the wreck settled southeast of Nags Head, North Carolina in 77 feet (23 m) of water.

The ship now rests several hundred feet (roughly 100 meters) away from the wreck of a landing craft and that of MV Advance II.