 On 30 November, "LST-31" was assigned to duty in Japan with the 5th Fleet, Amphibious Group 11, LST Flotilla 35.However, these orders were superseded late in December; and the ship was slated for decommissioning.She was scheduled to be turned over to the Japanese merchant marine to be manned by a Japanese crew under American control for use in repatriating Japanese citizens and shuttling supplies between Japanese ports.