With the outbreak of the Korean War, and the need for additional vessels to halt Communist aggression, Hooper Island was recommissioned 12 April 1952.

After shakedown and repair duty on the west coast, Hooper Island sailed from Long Beach, California on 3 December 1952 bound for the trouble-filled waters of the Far East.

From August 1954 to July 1955 she supported units of the fleet when they evacuated almost 300,000 citizens of North Vietnam (scheduled to be handed over to Communist authority) to the South.

Vietnamese President Diem responded to this humanitarian operation known as "Passage to Freedom" by saying: "In the name of all that you have helped, in the name of those who far away are hoping, in the name of all my compatriots whom you have brought south of the 17th parallel... with all my heart I thank you."

Hooper Island resumed her repair services at Long Beach, California, 5 December 1955 then shifted to San Diego on 30 April 1956.