Attached to the 1st Marine Raider Battalion, Private Johnson participated in the invasion of Tulagi, Solomon Islands on 7 August 1942.

After shakedown off Bermuda, George A. Johnson departed New York 24 June 1944 to escort a convoy bound for Bizerte, Tunisia.

After preparing for duty in the Pacific, she departed New York 3 November and steamed via the Panama Canal to Hollandia, New Guinea, where she arrived 24 December.

Departing Mois Woendi 4 January 1945, she joined cargo ships bound for Lingayen Gulf, Luzon.

George A. Johnson engaged in patrol and convoy duties in the Philippines until 26 January 1945, when she supported landings at San Antonio, Luzon.

After this operation, she resumed convoy escort duty out of Leyte Gulf, steaming to Ulithi, Hollandia, and Manus.

Returning to the Philippines after the Japanese surrender, George A. Johnson departed Manila 4 September for Jinsen, Korea, to join Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid in USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3).