Following a shakedown cruise in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, USS Young briefly operated out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

She was an element of Rear Admiral Wilder D. Baker's striking force on 2 February 1944 when that unit conducted the first bombardment of Japanese home territory in the Kurils.

At about 17:18, a raid of five kamikazes broke through the combat air patrol, and three of the suicide planes succeeded in their missions, hitting LST-460, LST-479, and the Liberty ship SS Juan de Fuca.

Since the American troops encountered no real resistance until they had advanced inland well beyond the range of destroyer guns, Young and her accompanying warships had little to do at Lingayen Gulf.

During operations around Subic and Manila Bays, the warship joined USS Nicholas in destroying two Japanese 17-foot (5.2 m) suicide boats sent in from Corregidor to break up the Mariveles occupation force on 14 February.

She continued her patrol operations in the Philippines until the end of the third week in May at which time she received orders to return to the United States for repairs.

Steaming via Eniwetok Atoll and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, she arrived in San Francisco Bay on 12 June and began a 47-day overhaul at the Mare Island Navy Yard.

Late in July, USS Young completed her post-overhaul trials and, early in August, she headed back toward Pearl Harbor.

Instead of continuing westwards, she began operations in the Hawaiian Islands area as escort and plane guard for the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga.