"lillian ii" was built in 1909 by willard downes at bayshore, new york, as a private motorboat of the same name. the u.s. navy acquired "lillian ii" from her owner, s. f. rothschild of bayshore, under a bare-boat charter on 6 june 1917 for world war i service. she was enrolled in the coast defense reserve on 8 june 1917, delivered to the navy on 16 june 1917, and commissioned as uss "lillian ii" (sp-38) on 20 july 1917 with ensign s. cohen, usnrf, in command.