Following shakedown, Ponchatoula departed the East Coast of the United States 13 December 1944, took on oil in the Netherlands West Indies and continued on to San Diego, California.

In March, she sailed for Ulithi with a cargo of aviation gasoline and diesel fuel and in May crossed the remaining distance to Okinawa in convoy UOK–11, anchoring off the Hagushi beaches on the 16th.

Assigned to shuttle oil and gasoline from larger tankers to the fleet's smaller ships, she shifted to Ie Shima, on the 19th and to Kerama Retto on the 29th.

Remaining in the area through the end of World War II, Ponchatoula continued her shuttle service until 14 December 1945 when she got underway for the United States and inactivation.

Decommissioned at Mare Island, California, 24 April 1946, Ponchatoula was struck from the Navy List 31 May 1946 and transferred to the United States Maritime Commission for further disposal 9 September 1946.