She was laid down as a Type C2-S-AJ3 ship on 12 May 1944 under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1388) by the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company, Wilmington, North Carolina, and launched on 17 July 1944, sponsored by Mrs. N. J. Smith. Briefly in commission, from 31 August to 4 September 1944, for the voyage from Wilmington to the Charleston Navy Yard, where she completed fitting out and was commissioned on 24 September 1944, Lt. Comdr. Stanley E. Melville, USNR, in command.