She was laid down at yard number 1523 at the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania shipyard of the American International Shipbuilding Corporation, one of 110 Design 1022 cargo ships built for the United States Shipping Board.

[1] The Japanese commenced near simultaneous attacks against U.S. forces in the Philippines, Guam, Wake Island, and Pearl Harbor; and against British and allied forces in Singapore and Hong Kong.

On 8 December 1941, Japanese planes tasked with attacking shipping in Manila Bay, bombed and set her ablaze; she was then abandoned.

[5] On 11 December 1941, she was partially scuttled by a U.S. Army demolition party off Corregidor.

[7] The Philippine freighter Don Jose is also set on fire; the presidential yacht BRP Banahaw (ex-Casania) is sunk; and the steamship Bicol and motor vessel Aloha are both scuttled.