He was officially reported missing in action 2 May 1942 when USS Cythera, on which he was serving, was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-402 off the coast of North Carolina.

She carried out patrol and escort duties in the East China Sea, supporting the occupation of Japan and Korea, until April 1946.

She departed Singapore on 8 April 1946 and returned to Charleston, South Carolina, via the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean, arriving there on 30 May.

Brister then reported for inactivation and went out of commission in reserve at Green Cove Springs, Florida, on 4 October 1946.

On 1 September 1955 Brister commenced conversion to a radar picket escort vessel at Charleston Naval Shipyard.