The ship was laid down on 20 April 1937 by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, as the Jeanne D'Arc for F. J. O'Hara and Sons, Inc. of Boston, Massachusetts. Launched on 21 August 1937, the ship was delivered on 23 October 1937. Renamed Cardinal on 14 August 1940, she was acquired by the Navy on 19 August 1940. Commissioned in ordinary on 28 August 1940, and converted to a Minesweeper at the Norfolk Navy Yard, she was commissioned in full as USS Cardinal (AM-67) on 2 November 1940, Lieutenant J. E. Smith, Jr., in command. Conversion was completed by 22 April 1941.