[2] The ship is named after Private First Class James Anderson Jr., an American Marine who was awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War.

[4] In 1983, she was acquired and chartered by the Navy under a long-term contract as MV PFC James.

The ship underwent conversion at the Bethlehem Steel at Sparrows Point, Massachusetts.

She was assigned to Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron 3 and supported the US Marine Corps Expeditionary Brigade.

[4] On 21 September 1990, she unloaded military cargos in support of Operation Desert Storm.