She was laid down 11 July 1944, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MCV hull 565, by Permanente Metals Corporation, Yard No.

While underway, the escort in attempting to regain proper station, rammed New Kent amidships sustaining severe damage to herself but was able to proceed under her own power to Pearl Harbor.

From this time until 15 March, the ship was engaged in combat loading troops and equipment of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Regiment, 1st Marine Division and in rehearsal exercises in the Guadalcanal-Russell Islands area preparing for the invasion of Okinawa.

[4] On 15 March New Kent departed the Guadalcanal area, and after a short stop at Ulithi, arrived off the western beaches of Okinawa on the morning of L-Day, 1 April.

Landing her troops that afternoon, New Kent sent a beach party ashore the next day and then remained in the transport area, subject to frequent enemy air attack, until departing in convoy for Pearl Harbor on 7 April.

[3] On 26 June New Kent loaded general cargo and Army Casual troops at Seattle and departed for Honolulu arriving there on 3 July.

During the period between 10–16 September, the ship was combat loaded with troops and equipment of the 3rd Battalion, 136th Regiment, 33rd Infantry Division, 6th Army and attached units and engaged in rehearsal and training exercises in connection with the forthcoming landing at Wakayama, Honshū, Japan.

During the week spent in Japan, sightseeing parties from the ship visited the nearby large Japanese naval base at Kure as well as the site where the first atomic bomb was dropped at Hiroshima.

There she embarked 2000 passengers for her first Magic Carpet voyage, to bring the troops home to San Pedro, California, 19 November.

New Kent sailed from San Diego on 5 December for Guam, Marianas Islands to make its second Magic Carpet run.

At the time she was based at Orange, Texas, as part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Mobile, Alabama, Group.