Barbara Olson was able to escape an attack off the coast of California in the early days of World War II.

The Barbara Olson was built under a United States Shipping Board (USSB) contract in 1918 as the SS Corrales and renamed in 1940.

On July 25, 1942, she was chartered by the US Army to transport supplies to the Territory of Hawaii as the USAT Barbara Olson for World War II.

The torpedo explosion was seen by the nearby United States Navy patrol boat subchaser USS Amethyst.

[7] Later that day I-19 torpedoed and hit the McCormick Steamship Company's 5,695-ton American lumber carrier, SS Absaroka off Point Fermin Light in San Pedro, Los Angeles.

[8][9] On November 25, 1943 50 nautical miles (93 km) west of Makin Island the destroyer USS Radford found I-19 and sank her with depth charges, with all crew lost.

In 1957 she was sold to Industrias Alimenticias Huacho S. A., El Callao; renamed SS Rio Pastaza of Peru.

On October 8, 1964, the crew ran her aground, stranded her four miles (6.4 km) north of Pimentel, Peru to prevent her from sinking.