Oregonian was built by the Delaware River Iron Shipbuilding and Engine Works in Chester, Pennsylvania and launched in 1901.

At the time of her acquisition by the United States Government on 15 August 1918 she was operated by the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company.

1323 and commissioned into the Naval Overseas Transportation Service (NOTS) on 17 August 1918 at Norfolk, Virginia.

After refitting and arming, she took on general cargo, joined a convoy out of Norfolk on 22 August 1918, and arrived at Brest, France, on 11 September 1918.

The first was to La Pallice, Bordeaux, and Le Verdon-sur-Mer, France, returning to New York on 13 December 1918, and the second to the Mediterranean in January 1919.