returning to manus two days before christmas, she was up in lingayen gulf, luzon, on 9 january 1945 for screen and patrol duty. during the assault, the following night her crew destroyed an enemy suicide boat only 25 yards from the ship. the explosion killed 1 and wounded 14 of "eaton"s men. she escorted transports in ballast from lingayen to leyte in january, bombarded corregidor in february, and returned to leyte gulf on 1 march.