The destroyer took part in the United States' naval campaign in the South Pacific during World War II.

During the Korean War, Braine was recommissioned and operated in the Mediterranean Sea before being decommissioned for the final time by the United States Navy in 1971.

Departing the United States east coast in the summer of 1943, Braine sailed via San Francisco to Pearl Harbor as an escort for troop transports.

Braine rendered fire support during the Leyte landings (20 October), and repelled an enemy air attack on 18 November.

She served as a radar picket and support ship for the landing forces at Zamboanga and subsequently at Pollack Harbor, Mindanao (17 March–23 April).

Braine retired to Kerama Retto, Ryukyu Islands, for emergency repairs; departed 19 June; and arrived in the United States 19 July 1945.

Recommissioned 6 April 1951, Braine conducted training in the Atlantic and Caribbean and in the spring of 1952 sailed to the Mediterranean for duty with the 6th Fleet.

Between October 1953 and 2 November 1954, she underwent a yard period, conducted refresher training in the Caribbean, and local operations in the vicinity of Newport.