McDermut was laid down 14 June 1943 by the Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Kearny, New Jersey; launched 17 October 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, widow of the 28th President; and commissioned 19 November 1943.

She sortied with Task Group 58.2 (TG 58.2), 22 March, and before returning to Majuro, 6 April, participated in strikes on Palau, Yap, Ulithi, and Woleai.

By 15 September she was in position off Peleliu to support the 1st Marine Division as it landed, shifting to Angaur on the 17th to assist Army assault units.

On that morning McDermut, screening the transports as they approached the Dulag landing area, warded off enemy planes and rescued downed American pilots.

On the night of 24 October Rear Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf deployed his forces for what was to be the last engagement of a battleline, the Battle of Surigao Strait.

After launching their torpedoes, the destroyers retired north as planned, hugging the coastlines of Leyte and Dinagat to avoid fire from the ships of DesRons 24 and 56 and those of the battleline.

In the screen of TG 58.4, she participated in strikes on enemy installations, shipping, and troop concentrations in the Ryukyu Islands and Kyūshū.

On 7 July McDermut was sent to intercept the Japanese hospital ship Takasago Maru and divert her from a course which would have taken her into the task force's fueling area.

On 8 July, the ship was located and a boarding party was dispatched with a message guaranteeing safe conduct if the captain and crew would comply with instructions and courses given.

The destroyer was detached from the carrier force 12 August with orders to proceed, via Adak, to the west coast for a navy yard overhaul.

For the next 10 years, McDermut maintained an annual schedule of 6 months of west coast operations alternated with western Pacific deployments.

McDermut was sold on 4 January 1966 to the National Metal and Steel Corporation, Terminal Island, Los Angeles, California, and was towed away for scrapping in February 1966.