The task group commander, Rear Admiral O. M. Read, ordered Eberle to ignore Karin's Allied flag and board her.

In spite of rising flames and explosions, Pattison performed his salvage duties, primarily by maintaining contact with Eberle while his colleagues searched for demolition charges.

Diverted en route in order to provide emergency medical treatment to an appendicitis victim on board a Liberty ship, she did not reach San Diego until 22 May 1945.

After a six-day voyage filled with gunnery drills and tactical exercises, the three high-speed transports arrived in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, on 30 May 1945.

On 13 June 1945, William J. Pattison embarked 10 officers and 50 enlisted men and got underway for the Marshall Islands, in company with Cavallaro and SS Cape Meares.

On 20 August 1945, she departed Guam in company with Begor and a group of tank landing ships (LSTs) to join the United States Third Fleet off Japan.

William J. Pattison arrived in Tokyo Bay late in the afternoon of 27 August 1945 to begin her part in the postwar occupation of Japan.

William J. Pattison remained active with the Amphibious Forces, United States Pacific Fleet, into early 1946, when she moved to Green Cove Springs, Florida.