Before the war, the Ancon operated between New York City and Cristobal, Canal Zone, via Port au Prince, Haiti, under the ownership of the Panama Railroad. The Ancon was built by the Bethlehem Ship Building Company, Four River Yards, Quincy, Massachusetts, and was to be five hundred feet long and have a gross tonnage of ten thousand tons.

The ship was launched on September 24, 1938, christened by Mrs. V. Woodring, wife of the Secretary of  War.  Mr D.H. Swanson, our Executive Officer, was the first Captain.  The Ancon was fitted to carry two hundred and two first class passengers and a crew of 125.  It was put into service in June 1939 at a total cost of $5,000,000.   The Ancon had two sister ships, the Cristobal and the Panama, one of which was with us on this voyage.  On January 11, 1942, the  Ancon was taken over by the United States Army Transport Service and made two voyages between San Francisco, California, and Australia, visiting Brisbane, Adelaide, and Sidney during the trip.  On her return from the second trip to Australia, she was sent to the East Coast for conversion for use of the United States Navy.  The Ancon was placed in full commission by the Commandant, Navy Yard,  Boston, on August 12, 1942, and became the U.S.S. Ancon.  Captain P. L. Mather, U.S.N. was the Commanding Officer.

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