 In June 1917, the U.S. Navy acquired her from her owners, T. M. Jones and P. C. Kauffman of Newport, Rhode Island, for use as a section patrol boat during World War I.She was commissioned as USS "Joy" (SP-643) in 1917.Assigned to the 2nd Naval District in southern New England, "Joy" performed patrol duty until declared unfit for service sometime in 1918.