The 2,722-ton cargo ship Glymont was operated by the Matson Navigation until 1923 in post World War I work.

In 1937 the ship was sold to the Hammond Lumber Company of Fairhaven, California and renamed Arcata.

For World War II, in 1941, she was converted to the United States Army troopship USAT Arcata.

Arcata was operating as a coastal resupply in the Gulf of Alaska, south of the Aleutian Islands at (53°41′N 157°45′W / 53.683°N 157.750°W / 53.683; -157.750 (USAT Arcata)), approximately 165 nautical miles (306 km; 190 mi) southeast of Sand Point, when she sank.

From 1920 to 1930 as Glymont, the vessel traveled to ports in China, Hawaii, San Pedro, Seattle, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Ichang, Chungking, Tientsin, Manila, Kobe, and Singapore.

The Alaskan fishing boat Yukon found and picked up the other lifeboat with fourteen survivors.