 She was launched on 2 February 1944 sponsored by Mrs. J. M. Ryan, converted for Navy use as a cargo barge, acquired by the Navy under loan charter from the Maritime Commission on 29 August 1944; and placed in service at San Francisco the same day.Assigned to duty with Service Squadron 8, "Marl" was towed to the Philippines where during the remainder of the war in the Pacific she provided facilities for storing and issuing United States Army and United States Marine Corps supplies at Leyte.On 23 September 1945 she departed San Pedro Bay under tow by and headed in convoy bound for Okinawa.