54 ) was laid down on 19 May 1919 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard; launched on 11 September 1919, sponsored by Miss Caroline Chantry, the daughter of Comdr.

After brief service with the Atlantic Fleet Train Willet was decommissioned on 29 May 1920 and simultaneously transferred, on loan, to the United States Shipping Board.

(During the 1920s and 1930s, she was based at the Merritt, Chapman, and Scott salvage depot in New York City before being shifted to Key West, Florida, from which point she operated during World War II.)

She assisted stranded or grounded vessels, fought fires on burning ships, and escorted coastwise convoy runs.

Although listed as "disposed of" as of 6 July 1948 subsequent records indicate that the ship lay berthed at the Navy Net Depot at Melville, Rhode Island, into the late fall of 1948.