Cambriona was registered with U.S. Official Number 229626, home port of Detroit, Michigan with signal letters MHSR.

The yacht was the largest in Newport Harbor and used for weekend trips to Catalina and cruises to Alaska, Mexico and Honduras.

The vessel arrived at Pearl Harbor 1 May 1942 for patrol and escort duty with the Hawaiian Sea Frontier.

From 1 December 1943 to 14 April 1944 Vida was based at Midway for patrol duty, exercises and training with submarines.

After overhaul at Pearl Harbor she returned to operations with weather station patrols added to her duties.

Crystal was decommissioned there 6 March 1946 and was transferred to the custody of the Maritime Commission (MC) 2 April 1947 for disposal.

On 12 February 1947 the vessel was sold to Clyde Webster and withdrawn from the fleet 7 April for delivery to Navy, the buyer and Barnett Shipping.