She was laid down on 5 March 1956 at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin by Peterson Builders, launched on 29 December 1956, sponsored by Mrs. Henry P. Williams, and commissioned on 4 August 1958 with Lt. Comdr.

Following outfitting, the minesweeper put to sea on 28 August – bound for Charleston, S.C. — and, on the 29th, reported for duty with Mine Squadron (MinRon) 4.

On 12 February 1961, she completed turnover ceremonies at Rota, shaped a course for Charleston, and arrived back in her home port on 1 March 1961.

She began that duty patrolling the Windward Passage but concluded it as a harbor defense ship for the American base at Guantánamo Bay.

For the remainder of 1964 and all of 1965, she conducted operations out of Charleston in support of the Naval Mine Defense Laboratory and made voyages along the east coast and to the West Indies to participate in various exercises and to engage in refresher training.

That employment lasted until 11 May 1967, when she shaped a course for Montreal, Canada, to make a goodwill visit to the world's fair at that city, Expo '67.

The assignment lasted until late November and consisted of normal 6th Fleet operations – exercises, port visits, and Soviet ship surveillance missions.