She was laid down 11 December 1944 as MC hull 1896 by Walsh-Kaiser Co., Inc., Providence, R.I.; launched 17 January 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Felix Gygax; completed and accepted at the Boston Navy Yard; and commissioned 21 February 1945.

After shakedown along the Atlantic coast and in Chesapeake waters, Polana steamed for Newport, R.I. to assume duties as an Amphibious Force training ship.

Standing out of Hampton Roads, Va. 10 May, Polana transited the Panama Canal and continued on to Pearl Harbor, arriving 31 May.

The fall found her assigned to "Magic Carpet" duty, and through the winter she continued cargo runs between the Philippines, Japan, Okinawa, and Tsingtao, China.

She decommissioned 21 March at Portsmouth, Va., was struck from the Navy List 1 May and delivered to the Maritime Commission 26 June 1946 at Lee Hall, Va. She was sold for scrapping in 1966.