USS Aaron Ward, a 2200-ton Robert H. Smith class light minelayer, was built at San Pedro, California. Originally intended to be a destroyer (DD-773) of the Allen M. Sumner class, she was converted to a mine warfare ship after launching and entered commissioned service in late October 1944. Aaron Ward arrived in the Pacific war zone in February 1945, and in March took part in the invasion of Okinawa. For the next several weeks, she supported minesweeping operations, performed escort, patrol and radar picket duties, and helped fight off constant Japanese air raids.

On 3 May 1945, while on picket station west of Okinawa, Aaron Ward was the target of intense attacks by Kamikaze suicide planes. She shot down several, but was hit and near-missed by many more. Her crew managed to keep their badly-damaged ship afloat, an effort that was recognized by the award of a Presidential Unit Citation, and she was towed to an anchorage the next day. Following temporary repairs, she was able to steam across the Pacific and through the Panama Canal, to arrive at New York in August 1945. With World War II now nearly at an end, Aaron Ward was not worth the expense of renovation. She was decommissioned in late September 1945 and sold for scrapping in July 1946.

USS Aaron Ward was named in honor of Rear Admiral Aaron Ward, USN, (1851-1918), who served actively in the U.S. Navy from 1867 to 1913.