She was laid down at the Alameda, California shipyard of the A. W. de Young Boat & Shipbuilding Company, one of 203 "Six-Bitters" ordered by the United States Coast Guard.

[2][3] She was designed for long-range picket and patrol duty during Prohibition for postings 20 to 30 miles from shore.

[5] The date of her completion is uncertain although the class design was finalized in April 1924 and all of the Six-Bitters were commissioned by 1925.

[1] In 1934, she was transferred to the United States Navy and designated as a Yard Patrol Craft (YP).

[3] She served in the 12th Naval District at Mare Island in Vallejo, California training reservists until the advent of World War II where she was assigned to the Inshore Patrol, 12th Naval District.