1945

Her overhaul completed, Augusta departed Boston on 26 January 1945 with Rhind (DD-404) and Bainbridge (DD-246), bound for Trinidad, tested her guns en route, and arrived on 31 January. In the first week of February, she conducted refresher training in the Gulf of Paria, Trinidad, polishing up on gunnery, night battle, radar, and antiaircraft techniques She steamed to San Juan Puerto Rico, calling there on 9 February. Sailing for the United States on 21 February, Augusta along with the destroyers Tillman (DD-641), Herndon (DD-638) and Satterlee (DD-626), rendezvoused with the heavy cruiser Quincy (CA-71) and her screen on 24 February as that cruiser steamed back to the United States with President Roosevelt embarked, following the Yalta Conference.

After Augusta and her screen had covered the approach of the President to Hampton Roads, she underwent minor emergency repairs, remaining at Norfolk until 7 March when she steamed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, arriving there three days later. She trained off Trinidad and Curacao until 7 April, where Chicago (CA-136) joined her.

Augusta returned to Norfolk on 10 April, and on 14 April, in accordance with orders from the Secretary of the Navy, half-masted her colors for a period of one month in honor of the late President Roosevelt. After a brief call at Annapolis, Maryland she sailed north to Newport on 22 April to train 11 officers and 300 men from Columbus (CA-74) on a cruise. The ship conducted antiaircraft defense and other exercises in Long Island Sound until 27 April when she returned to Newport and disembarked the trainees.

Three days later, Augusta sailed for New York, and arrived there on 1 May. On 7 May, in company with Decatur (DD-341), she headed for Casco Bay, where the end of the war in Europe found her, and returned to New York on 2 June. On the 13th Augusta got underway to proceed back to Norfolk. She then conducted further training exercises in Chesapeake Bay until 7 July 1945.

POTSDAM CONFERENCE

On July 7, 1945 President Truman stepped off a special train onto pier 6 at Newport News, Virginia, and was piped aboard the Augusta enroute to the Potsdam Conference. Secretary of State James F. Byrnes, and Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy accompanied Truman. Following breakfast in the mess Truman proceeded to the flag bridge. At 6:55AM Truman ordered the Augusta to get under way, and the ship set out for the Atlantic under a clear sky, on a smooth sea, with a balmy 79 degree 23 knot breeze... destination Antwerp, Belgium. Met by a British escort, Augusta arrived on 14 July, and received dignitaries, including General Eisenhower. Her guests departed the same day and Augusta got underway to proceed to Plymouth, arriving there on 28 July.

On 2 August she embarked her distinguished passengers again and received another visit from King George VI. The ship then sailed for the United States, arriving at Newport on 7 August to disembark the President.

PRESIDENT TRUMAN ANNOUNCES A-BOMB ATTACK ON HIROSHIMA from aboard the Augusta.

A week later she moored in Casco bay. After carrying out training at Baltimore, Maryland, she arrived at Norfolk on 11 September, and conducted exercises off the Virginia capes until steaming to Casco Bay again on 5 October for temporary duty under the direction of Commander, Operational Training Command, Atlantic, Commander TF 69. She then proceeded to New York, and participated in Navy Day observances on 27 October at New York City, where President Truman reviewed the fleet. Open to the public from 25 to 30 October, Augusta hosted 23,362 visitors.

MAGIC CARPET

On 31 October, Augusta moored at the New York Naval Shipyard, to be modified for "Magic Carpet" operations, bringing home American servicemen from Europe. She performed this duty through the end of the year 1945.