She launched at Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company on 1 January 1943, sponsored by Betty Jane Hard, Winner of Scrap Metal Drive, Milledgeville, Georgia.

During the Convoy HX 228[5] she was slightly damaged at 21.31 hours on 10 March 1943 when hit by a dud torpedo from German U-boat U-221 commanded by Hans-Hartwig Trojer.

First class seaman Calvin Stoddard O'Rourke received commendations for his performance on 24 June 1944 when this ship was under repeated bombardment from hostile shore batteries and aircraft throughout an eight-day period.

Despite the prolonged danger of shrapnel, machine-gun fire and bombs, the gun crew fought back, setting up a deadly barrage of shellfire.

[10] The 2021 motion picture, The Rebels of PT-218, featured a Merchant Marine vessel named the SS Lawton B. Evans under the command of Lieutenant William Snow, played by Eric Roberts about the Battle of Anzio and PT-218.