On 10 July she arrived at Mers-el-Kebir; reported to Task Group 80.6 (TG 80.6); and commenced escort and patrol duty along the western North African coast.

Within the week, however, her escort runs were extended to Naples where Allied forces were preparing for Operation Dragoon – the invasion of southern France.

Ordered back to the United States for conversion to a destroyer transport, Runels departed the Mediterranean at the end of the year and arrived at New York on 18 January 1945.

Detached 16 August, Runels operated briefly with the fast carrier replenishment group, then joined Task Force 31 (TF 31), and on the 27th anchored in Sagami Wan to begin 7 months of occupation duty.

During September she assisted in the evacuation of Allied POWs from Japanese camps and provided mail, passenger and freight service between Iwo Jima and Tokyo.

In October and November, she participated in the demilitarization of islands in the Izu group; and, in December, she served as mobile headquarters for the Director of Port Activities, Empire Area; and conducted an inspection trip to the Ryūkyūs.