LST-491 was laid down on 29 July 1943, at Evansville, Indiana, by the Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Company; launched on 23 September 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Barton Cook; and commissioned on 3 December 1943.

She was then assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and took part in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in May and June 1945.

The tank landing ship returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 12 January 1946.

She was loaned to the Japanese government on 31 March 1952, and operated under the Shipping Control Authority, Japan.

[2] The ship was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in June 1975 and transferred to the Philippine Navy on 13 September 1976.