Mission Santa Cruz was laid down 26 June 1943 under a Maritime Commission contract by Marine Ship Corporation, Sausalito, California; launched 8 September 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Frank C. Sewell; and delivered 31 December 1943. Chartered to Deconhill Shipping Corporation for operations, she spent the remainder of the War carrying fuel to American forces fighting in the Pacific (during which time she was awarded the National Defense Service Medal). She remained in this capacity until 3 June 1946 when she was returned to the Maritime Commission and laid up in the Maritime Reserve Fleet at Mobile, Alabama.
