As she had just entered into a decommissioned status in April (3 months earlier) her reactivation went extremely quickly, and in reality consisted of minor repairs, loading a crew, stores, and ammunition.

She patrolled in the eastern Mediterranean during the Suez Crisis of 1956; took part in the International Naval Review celebrating the 350th Anniversary of the foundation of Jamestown, Virginia, 12 June 1957; and participated in the NATO exercise operation "Strikeback", conducted in the North Sea and Arctic Ocean in September 1957.

On the night of 19–20 January 1959, Macon, steaming from Cartagena to Marseille, diverted from her course and sped to the aid of burning Italian merchant ship Maria Amata.

While on this tour, 19[1] members of the band perished in a plane crash en route to perform at a state dinner for Brazilian President Juscelino Kubitschek.

Stricken on 1 November 1969, and sold to the Union Minerals and Alloys Corporation, New York City, on 5 July 1973 and scrapped in Port Newark, New Jersey.