The ship was laid down on 23 March 1944 by Consolidated Steel Corporation, Orange, Texas, launched on 18 April 1944, and was commissioned as USS LCI(L)–982 on 16 May 1944.

After conducting landing exercises and other aspects of her shakedown, LCI(L)–982 departed Galveston, Texas, on 10 June 1944, en route to the southwest Pacific war zone.

Again transiting the Panama Canal LCI(L)-982 reported at Green Cove Springs, Florida, on 20 May 1946 and decommissioned on 24 June joining the 16th Reserve Fleet.

Reclassified first in 1949 as LSIL-982, the Korean War brought conversion at Charleston, South Carolina, to an AMCU and recommissioning as USS Owl (AMCU–35) on 19 December 1953.

Reclassified MHC-35 on 7 February 1955, her basic duties remained the same until 2 August 1957 when she departed the Naval Station Rodman, Canal Zone, for Boston and retirement.