The ship is named after Private Joseph F. Merrell, an American soldier who was awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II.

She was delivered to the War Shipping Administration to be used by the Isthmian SS Company as Grange Victory on 7 August 1944.

[3] On 23 November 1946, she was chartered by the Waterman Steamship Corporation until 29 December 1947 where she would be decommissioned and laid up at the Mobile Reserve Fleet after being acquired by the United States Maritime Administration.

Joseph F. Merrell had collided with the Liberian freighter Pearl Venture about 50 miles south of Monterey.

[7] She would finally be returned to the Maritime Administration on 26 August 1974, struck from the Naval Register and sold for $256,600 to the Long Jong Industry.