The ship was built as a Maritime Commission type N3-M-A1 cargo vessel intended for naval and Lend Lease service as M.C. hull 649 assigned the name MV "Summer Pierce" before being laid down on 3 December 1943. The ship was renamed and designated "Norma" (AK-86), 30 October 1942 intended as an for the U.S. Navy. "Norma" was delivered to the Navy on 6 June 1944 and transferred to the U.S. Army on the same day. "Norma" was renamed "Henry Wright Hurley" by the Army and began conversion into a U.S. Army Engineer Port Repair ship for service with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.