The fourth ship to be named Kanawha by the Navy, AOG-31 was laid down 30 August 1944 by the East Coast Shipyard, Inc., Bayonne, New Jersey, under a United States Maritime Commission contract; launched 18 October 1944; sponsored by Mrs. May T. Norton; transferred to the Navy 13 November; and commissioned 23 November 1944.

Following shakedown in Chesapeake Bay, Kanawha cleared Norfolk, Virginia, 15 January 1945 to load oil at Aruba, Netherlands West Indies, and arrived San Pedro, Los Angeles, 13 February.

The tanker operated in the Philippines for the rest of the war and began similar duties at Okinawa 6 October.

Kanawha sailed for America 14 November and arrived Mare Island, California, 14 December via Pearl Harbor.

She entered the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, California, 4 September.