While assigned to Patrol Squadron 23, Cary saw action in New Hebrides, the Solomon Islands (Guadalcanal, Tulagi, the slot towards Bougainville) and bombed Nauru. While assigned to Patrol Squadron 18, he saw action in Saipan and Okinawa. After his tender was hit by a Kamikaze in April 1945, he was grounded and sent back to the States. Cary received the Pacific Area Ribbon with 4 stars and two Air medals.