Garrard served as an attack transport of the Gilliam class, APA-84. Consolidated Steel launched her at Wilmington on 13 January 1945, and the Navy commissioned her on 3 March 1945. She joined the fleet very late, with the last amphibious months of the Pacific war still ahead.
Okinawa was where she worked. On 24 June 1945 she arrived at Hagushi Beach. Aboard were the 854th Aviation Engineers. She put those engineers and the cargo that belonged to them onto the beach.
Japanese aircraft struck while the landing went on. Her gunners joined the ships that were beating the planes away from the transport area. The boats kept running under that fire.
On 28 June she sailed, bound for Leyte. Four days had passed between her arrival at Hagushi and that departure. The Navy decommissioned her on 21 May 1946, and two battle stars were credited to her wartime record.