Oracle was laid down by the General Engineering & Dry Dock Company of Alameda, California, 7 May 1942; launched 30 September 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Sadie L. Jones; and commissioned 14 May 1943.

Getting underway from Alameda, California on 27 June, Oracle steamed to Adak, Alaska, to spend the next five months in towing, escort, patrol, salvage, and survey operations in the Aleutians area.

On her first operation in the central Pacific Ocean, the invasion of Majuro Atoll, Marshalls, 31 January to 3 February 1944, she swept landing channels and took soundings for chart preparation.

From 1 to 10 October Oracle was on emergency chemical smoke watch off Apra Harbor, Guam, to protect shipping from Japanese air attack.

Reporting to Sasebo, Japan, 5 November, she participated in the mine clearance of the Formosa Straits area, until 23 December when she reached Shanghai, China.

The minesweeper Oracle steamed for home in the spring of 1946, arriving San Diego, California, to be decommissioned on 29 May and enter the Pacific Reserve Fleet there.