After serving in Louisville and on the staff of the Pacific Fleet Scouting Force, Lieutenant (junior grade) Harveson was assigned to USS Utah on 19 August 1941.

In the next 14 months she escorted nine more convoys carrying vitally needed supplies for the European theatre safely across the dangerous North Atlantic.

When V-E Day came, CortDiv 22 was ordered to the Pacific; and Harveson reached Pearl Harbor via the Panama Canal and San Diego, California, 11 July to begin refresher training.

Harveson was still engaged in tactical training at Pearl Harbor when Japan capitulated, but soon she participated in the occupation of the defeated enemy's homeland.

During the next few weeks she operated along the coast of Honshū, escorting USS Mount McKinley and supporting occupation landings at Wakayama, Hiro, and Nagoya.

After intensive tests and vigorous tactical training, Harveson joined Escort Squadron 10 at Newport, Rhode Island, 30 May to begin duty as a radar picket ship.