"pcs-1376" was laid down on 13 october 1942 at the wheeler shipbuilding corporation in whitestone, new york; launched on 3 april 1943, sponsored by mrs. j. e. flipse; and commissioned on 9 july 1943, with lieutenant (j.g.) john p. morgan, iii, usnr, in command. (lieutenant morgan's relationship to american financier j. p. morgan, jr. is undetermined.)