She was laid down 3 July 1944, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MCV hull 564, by Permanente Metals Corporation, Yard No.

2, Richmond, California; launched on 7 October 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Wendall E. Adams; and commissioned 16 November, Commander Martin J. Drury, USN.

[4] Ten days were allotted for this work, then she loaded with a cargo of food at San Francisco and received her first set of combat sailing orders – telling her merely to "Proceed Pearl Harbor".

While at Leyte Gulf, Neshoba was designated as the flagship of Commander Transport Division Forty Two, Captain Edwin T. Short, USN.

It was decided to hold extensive maneuvers in Leyte Gulf for the ships and troops scheduled to take part in the forthcoming operation.

Transport Squadrons Thirteen and Fourteen got underway from Leyte Gulf on 27 March 1945, for the four-day trip north to Okinawa.

Since the landings were virtually unopposed, no casualties were inflicted on the crew, and upon completion of the unloading phase, many transports were ordered by Admiral Richmond K. Turner to return to Pearl Harbor.

Captain Short, aboard Neshoba, was named Officer in Tactical Command (OTC) of fifteen ships in convoy, which left Okinawa on 5 April, and proceeded to Pearl, via Guam.

[4] The convoy arrived on time at Pearl Harbor on 22 April, and many of the ships received sailing orders for the United States.

Upon conclusion of these maneuvers, she proceeded back to Pearl Harbor where her new orders read, "REPORT SAN FRANCISCO FOR LOADING".

During the trip, a small, but very annoying typhoon was encountered, but all ships and craft weathered the storm and sailed into Saipan harbor on 6 August.

Commanded by Rear Admiral Kendall, USN, in Pearl Harbor, the "Magic Carpet" fleet had the specific duty of moving eligible dischargees from overseas to the United States.

[4] Upon arriving in San Francisco and debarking troops, Neshoba headed for Mare Island Navy Yard for minor repairs.

Davis were relieved of duty by Captain E. J. Sweeney, USNR, and Lt. D. M. Newbern as the executive officer, later promoted to lieutenant commander.

With the escort of the Haverfield to clear mines in the Yellow Sea, the crew experienced cold weather for the first time and for most of the trip.

On 30 November the hook dropped in the Yellow Sea about 20 mi (32 km) from the coast and liberty was granted for all hands in Tientsin.

After a short stay in China the orders read once more for statewide and on 5 December, the ship departed for San Diego, California.

With a new paint job, sealing of guns, compartments and everything ready for the storeroom, Neshoba, commonly known as the "Mighty N", left Mare Island for Stockton, California.