taking on passengers and cargo, she sailed again for the pacific war areas 13 october, reaching funafuti, ellice islands, 14 november after discharging cargo at pearl harbor. after miscellaneous cargo trips in the southern pacific, "hercules" returned to pearl 28 january 1944 for repairs. two round-trips with cargo and passengers to san francisco brought her into the summer and on 30 may she sailed with the initial invasion force for saipan. "hercules" reached saipan 15 june, d-day, and remained there discharging cargo until 24 june. although japanese planes filled the air and attacked her several times, "hercules" emerged unscathed as american forces continued to sweep across the island to japan. departing saipan 24 june, she returned to pearl harbor and from there sailed to guadalcanal.