She was laid down 25 June 1944 by the California Shipbuilding Corporation, Wilmington, Los Angeles, under a Maritime Commission contract.

[1] She was launched 29 August 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Earl English; acquired by the Navy 22 December 1944; and commissioned the same day at Oakland, California.

After shakedown, Lanier departed San Francisco 23 February 1945 and arrived Pearl Harbor 2 March to practice landing operations.

On the next day she embarked 254 survivors from Little (DD-803), sunk by enemy air attack while on radar picket duty west of Okinawa 3 May.

The collision sunk the barge, injured a civilian and sustained damage to the bow and forward ballast tanks.

Sailing in convoy 26 September, Lanier reached Manila Bay, Luzon, 1 October and joined the "Magic Carpet" fleet.

In 1956 Lanier was withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet as part of a Repair Program, GAA-American Hawaiian, and then returned.

Ace Reid (10 March 1925 – 10 November 1991) was a Machinist's Mate, First Class aboard Lanier and created the western cartoon, "Cowpokes."