"LST-70" was laid down on 13 November 1942 at Jeffersonville, Indiana, by the Jeffersonville Boat & Machine Co.; launched on 8 February 1943; sponsored by Mrs. George R. Bickel; and commissioned on 28 May 1943.During World War II "LST-70" was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the occupation and defense of Cape Torokina in November 1943, the Green Islands landing in February 1944, the capture and occupation of Guam in July 1944.