1, Richmond, California; sponsored by Mrs. Percy Lindt; launched 24 June 1943; acquired by the Navy from the War Shipping Administration (WSA) 10 July 1943; and commissioned 25 August 1943, at San Diego.

The following half year saw the cargo ship shuttling among the Solomon Islands bringing valuable supplies — gasoline, diesel oil, rolling stock, foodstuffs — to the staging area for some of the Pacific's most hard-fought campaigns.

Departing Espiritu Santo 22 September, Hyperion picked up stores at Tulagi and joined TG 78.8's reinforcement group which supported Admiral Daniel Barbey's Northern Attack Force TF 78.

[3] Another tour of duty shuttling cargo in the staging area between New Zealand and New Caledonia ended in late April 1945, as Hyperion loaded 6,500 long tons (6,604 t) of US Army engineering equipment at Nouméa and steamed for Okinawa, still the scene of bloody fighting.

During the 18 days it took her to discharge cargo at Okinawa beginning 8 May 1945, Hyperion witnessed naval bombardments of the Japanese positions on the island, the battles of Naha and Shuri, and countless kamikaze attacks — she was anchored less than 500 yd (457 m; 1,500 ft) from New Mexico when two suicide planes damaged the battleship 12 May 1945.