Assigned to the USS William B. Preston on 14 June 1940, Wilson was on the seaplane tender in Malalog Bay in the Philippines when the Japanese attacked American ships there on the morning of 8 December 1941.

Despite the rapidity with which the attack developed and the very obvious danger of being trapped by an explosion, Wilson went immediately below decks and had just completed closing all doors and hatches when a bomb hitting within a few feet of him caused his death.

With calls at San Diego, California, Pearl Harbor, and Eniwetok, LeRay Wilson arrived at Manus in Admiralty Islands, as the Navy prepared for the invasion of the Philippines.

As the plane splashed, its starboard wing crashed the ship's port side, killing six gunners, seriously wounding seven more, and causing extensive damage.

During February and March 1945, the ship repaired its port side and prepared for the largest operations of the Pacific war, the capture and occupation of Okinawa.

For the remainder of the war, LeRay Wilson supported the strikes on the Japanese homeland, escorting oilers and other logistics ships to rendezvous with Admiral William Halsey's 3rd Fleet in the East China Sea.

The ship departed Tokyo Bay 12 October for Okinawa en route to duty along the coast of China, remaining there until she sailed 26 December for San Francisco, California, arriving 16 January 1946 and joining the Pacific Reserve Fleet.

LeRay Wilson continued these missions to the Far East until she decommissioned at San Diego on 30 January 1959 and reentered the Pacific Reserve Fleet.