During February and March she evacuated civilians and service dependents from Pearl Harbor, then conducted amphibious assault exercises off San Diego, California.

On the evening of 7 August, while under air attack, President Hayes landed units of the 2nd Marine Regiment on the northeastern side of Guadalcanal.

Enemy resistance during the Saipan operation delayed sailing, but on 21 July she landed her troops and supplies east of Apra Harbor.

Retiring to Manus Island 29 October after unloading her troops, she witnessed the explosion of ammunition ship USS Mount Hood (AE-11) on 10 November.

Steaming for San Francisco and overhaul the following day, she returned to the Pacific and made runs between Espirito Santo, Guadalcanal, and Nouméa.

On 29 October the troops were debarked at Nagoya, and the next day President Hayes departed for duty with Operation Magic Carpet, returning 1400 dischargees from the Marianas to Los Angeles, on each of two round trips.

On 14 May 1958 at about 4.50am the President Hayes ran aground onto the coral of Observation Bank, in the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea.

Eight hours later the tug Tai Koo, captained by William "Steamboat Bill" Worrall, was dispatched from Hong Kong to salvage her.