Attached to Destroyer Division 19 with Hambleton and Federal-built sister Ellyson plus Emmons and Macomb from Bath Iron Works, Rodman operated mainly in the Atlantic and later in the Mediterranean Sea over the next two years, often in company with Emmons. During the Normandy landings, 6 June 1944 Rodman provided gunfire support off Utah Beach; then participated in the bombardment of Cherbourg before returning with the squadron to the Mediterranean for the invasion of southern France.

Converted at Boston Navy Yard as fast minesweeper DMS 21 in November–December 1944, Rodman went with her squadron to the Pacific as Mine Squadron 20 in time for the invasion of Okinawa. There, northeast of Ie Shima in 6 April 1945, she sustained three kamikaze hits. Emmons, circling to defend her, sustained five hits plus four near misses, was abandoned and later scuttled by gunfire from Ellyson.

Rodman received the Navy Unit Commendation for her action at Okinawa. She also earned five service stars during World War II:

Rodman was made seaworthy at Kerama Retto by 5 May and then sailed for Charleston Navy Yard, arriving 19 June. Permanent repairs were completed by mid-October. Then, like her minesweep sisters, Rodman remained in commission after the war with Mine Division 4. For the next 8 years, she operated primary along the US Atlantic seaboard, with three tours with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean.

On 15 January 1955, Rodman was reclassified DD 456. Decommissioned 28 July, she was transferred to the Republic of China where she served as RCS Hsien Yang (DD-16) until 1976, when she was sunk during the making of a motion picture.