From 10 July to 20 November, she made runs between Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, and Guadalcanal and Florida Islands, with two cruises to Nouméa, New Caledonia.

During these runs she fueled the fleet in Purvis Bay and Tulagi Harbor, Florida Island, and pumped aviation gasoline to Henderson Field and other fighter strips on Guadalcanal.

Departing Manus on 6 September, Patuxent steamed with the logistic support group for the Palau Island campaign.

The task group raced to the Western Carolines, arriving at Ulithi on 30 October, Patuxent's home port for the next ten months.

Typhoon Cobra hit the fueling area on 18 December, sent three destroyers to the bottom and badly damaged several other ships.

This cruise into the South China Sea ended Patuxent's part in the recapture and liberation of the Philippine Islands.

After Okinawa had been secured, Patuxent steamed to the Philippines, arriving at San Pedro Bay on 14 June, before joining the logistic group of the 3rd Fleet at Ulithi the 24th.

After replenishing at Ulithi the oiler was steaming to rejoin the support group off Honshū when the news of Japan's capitulation reached the ship.

On 16 September she headed home via Eniwetok, arrived at San Francisco on 24 October and reported for inactivation to the Commandant of the 12th Naval District.

She was subsequently sold to the Pure Oil Co., Chicago, Illinois, and operated out of Baltimore as SS David D. Irwin.