John Q. Roberts was laid down as the Rudderow-classdestroyer escort USS John Q. Roberts (DE-235) on 15 November 1943 by the Charleston Navy Yard and launched as such on 11 February 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Deany Roberts Garner, mother of the ship's namesake. The ship was reclassified as a Crosley-classhigh-speed transport and redesignated APD-94 on 17 June 1944. After conversion to her new role, the ship was commissioned on 8 March 1945.
In the weeks that followed, John Q. Roberts escorted convoys and took part in fleet maneuvers in the Philippines preparatory to Operation Olympic, the anticipated invasion of the island of Kyūshū in Japan. World War II ended on 15 August 1945, before the invasion could occur.
Postwar
The war over, John Q. Roberts departed Leyte on 20 August 1945 to escort a convoy to Okinawa. From there she was engaged in escort duties between Okinawa and Japan. The ship was at Yokosuka, Japan, during the historic surrender ceremonies in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945, and remained in Japan transporting troops and administrative personnel carrying out occupation of Japan occupation duties. After embarking returnees, she departed Nagoya, Japan, on 17 December 1945 and steamed via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor for San Pedro, California, where she arrived on 6 January 1946.
John Q. Roberts departed San Pedro on 25 January 1946 bound for Norfolk, and from there moved on to Green Cove Springs, Florida, where she arrived on 17 March 1946.