She was named in honor of Elden Francis Kyne who was killed in action on 9 August 1942, when the heavy cruiser Astoria (CA-34) was sunk by Japanese naval forces during the Battle of Savo Island.

Following training and escort duty at Pearl Harbor, Kyne was underway 12 August to screen a task force which brought material and ships for the impending Palau Islands invasion.

When that island was secure, giving the United States an air strip vitally needed as base for future B-29 raids on Japan, Kyne returned Ulithi on 5 March.

Kyne cleared San Pedro Bay, Philippine Islands, on 26 June to screen escort carriers as they provided air support for the invasion near Balikpapan, Borneo.

Departing Yokosuka, Japan, on 2 October, the destroyer escort arrived Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 23 November via Pearl Harbor and Long Beach, California.