 "Lawe" returned to Newport, Rhode Island, on 25 August 1956 and conducted East Coast operations until mid-December when she berthed at New London, Connecticut, for the holidays,

In January 1957, the destroyer returned to Newport for a tender availability; and, on the 28th of that month, "William C. Lawe" pulled up anchor and proceeded to the Mediterranean for a five-month tour of duty.She visited ports in Greece, Sicily, Italy, and France.The ship returned to her home port for May and June, then spent eight weeks on a midshipmen cruise.