On 9 June 1943 Lurline Burns was purchased by the U.S. Navy and commissioned on 22 September 1943 as the miscellaneous auxiliary USS Besboro (AG-66) assigned to duties transporting cargo and troops between Seattle and Alaska.

After spending time in the Maritime Commission reserve fleet at Suisun Bay the ship was sold commercial and later was under Panamanian registry as Shapur.

[1][4] The ship was commissioned at Seattle, Washington on 22 September 1943 as USS Besboro Classified a miscellaneous auxiliary and designated AG-66 under the command of Lt. Comdr.

For almost 31 months—through the end of World War II and during the early postwar period—Besboro steamed along a resupply circuit carrying cargo and troops between Seattle, Washington, and various points on the coast of Alaska.

[4] On 23 May 1947, she was sold to the Waterman Steamship Corporation which firm converted her back to mercantile service and restored her former name.