[1] The ship is named after Private Franklin J. Phillips, an American Marine who was awarded the Medal of Honor during the Boxer Rebellion.

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

She was assigned to Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron 2 and supported the US Marine Corps Expeditionary Brigade.

[4] On 1 August 1990, she unloaded military cargos in support of Operation Desert Shield.

[7] In 2008, the ship was struck from the Naval Register and later returned to Maersk Line as Mærsk Tennessee.