She was laid down on 7 September 1942 at the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, and was initially earmarked for transfer to the Royal Navy under lend-lease. However, the U.S. Navy decided to retain the ship for its own use; and she was reclassified to DE-24 on 7 January 1943. She was launched on 19 January 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Josephine P. Whitman, the widow of Lt. (jg.) Robert Scott Whitman during the Battle of Midway); and commissioned at Mare Island on 3 July 1943, Lt. Carl E. Bull in command.