"New Kent" remained in the Hawaiian Islands for one month, engaged in amphibious training exercises off Hawaii and in air-submarine exercises off Nihoa until 29 May. She then loaded and sailed for San Francisco arriving there on 4 June and then sailed up the coast arriving at Seattle 6 June. She then proceeded to the Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, Washington arriving on 8 June. Repairs were to be made to the ship, however, because of a strike in the yards, little work was accomplished. The ship was moved to Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington where the ship underwent overhaul until 26 June. On 26 June "New Kent" loaded general cargo and Army Casual troops at Seattle and departed for Honolulu arriving there on 3 July. The ship then sailed for San Francisco on 5 July, with 300 Japanese prisoners of war along with Army and Navy Casual personnel, arriving on 11 July. While at San Francisco "New Kent" had her berthing compartments enlarged to accommodate more troops. "New Kent" sailed for Leyte on 28 July, with Army casual troops and cargo, stopping en route at Eniwetok and Ulithi, arriving at San Pedro Bay, Leyte on 17 August. While at sea word had been received that Japan had accepted terms of surrender. "New Kent" remained in the Philippines for a little more than a month transporting Army troops to various positions on Luzon. On 23 August, she sailed for Manila arriving there 25 August, and on 29 August, the ship proceeded to Subic Bay, returning the same day. On 9 September "New Kent" sailed in convoy from Manila for Lingayen Gulf and arrived at Aringay Point, Lingayen Gulf the next day. During the period between 10–16 September, the ship was combat loaded with troops and equipment of the 3rd Battalion, 136th Regiment, 33rd Infantry Division, 6th Army and attached units and engaged in rehearsal and training exercises in connection with the forthcoming landing at Wakayama, Honshū, Japan. "New Kent", in company with other transports, left Lingayen Gulf on 20 September, for Wakayama, Japan, where it arrived during the early morning of 25 September. Unloading her occupation troops the next day "New Kent" then sailed for Subic Bay the same afternoon, arriving 1 October, and then proceeding the same day for Leyte, arriving 3 October. "New Kent" departed Leyte on 7 October, and arrived in Davao Gulf on the following day.