After shakedown interrupted by a search for a German U-boat off the coast of The Carolinas, Izard departed Norfolk 14 September 1943 and sailed for Pearl Harbor via the Panama Canal Zone and San Diego.

Arriving Pearl Harbor 4 October she spent the next 6 weeks training and standing plane guard duty.

As the Pacific Fleet started its mighty sweep across Micronesia Izard sortied 10 November 1943 from Pearl Harbor with Rear Admiral Charles Alan Pownall's Carrier Force (TF-50) for the Gilbert Islands operations, and for the next month provided air, surface and antisubmarine protection for Makin Island.

Izard sortied from Funafuti Harbor, Ellice Island, 23 January 1944 with Rear Admiral Forrest Sherman's Carrier Task Group to provide air cover for the assault and capture of Kwajalein.

Izard screened the carriers launching strikes in the Tinian-Saipan area 22 February, retiring to Majuro the 26th and Pearl in mid-March.

Izard was part of the screen for Admiral J.J. "Jocko" Clark's Carrier Task Group TG 58.1 during the Battle of the Philippine Sea (19–20 June 1944) which broke the enemy's once-mighty naval air arm.

Izard sailed for Pearl Harbor 30 June and in August joined the Northern Pacific Force at Adak, Alaska.