Rowe was laid down 7 December 1942 by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., Seattle, Wash.; launched 30 September 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Louise Bradley Roberson; and commissioned 13 March 1944.

After 2 weeks of additional underway training in the Hawaiian Islands, she completed a round-trip escort run to Eniwetok, 16 June to 2 July, and on 3 August 1944 sailed as flagship of Destroyer Squadron 57 (DesRon 57) for Adak, Alaska, to report for duty with the 9th Fleet.

Fifteen days later, with DesDiv 113, she escorted the battleship Mississippi out of Hagushi anchorage and steamed for the Philippines, reaching San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf, 20 June.

Standing out of Leyte Gulf on 1 July, Rowe rendezvoused with Task Force 38 (TF 38) for screening and plane guard duties during attacks against the Japanese home islands—Honshū, Shikoku and Hokkaidō.

Temporarily detached on 23 July 1945, Rowe participated in the bombardment of the town of Omura on Chichi Jima, then rejoined the carrier force.

Following shakedown in the Guantanamo Bay area, Rowe conducted shore bombardment exercises at Culebra Island, Puerto Rico, and returned to Norfolk, Va. 12 March 1952 for local operations with DesDiv 322.

From 18 July through 19 September, Rowe participated in various CONVEX events and training exercises while operating with Commander, Anti-Submarine Warfare Forces, Atlantic Fleet.

Attached to the 6th Fleet, 21 October 1957 to 5 March 1958, Rowe returned to European waters in June to call at ports in Sweden and Germany.