Former name retained.
El Oriente, a cargo ship, was built in 1910 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News Va.; transferred to the Navy 29 July 1918; and commissioned the same day, Lieutenant Commander William Delahanty, USNRF, in command.
Assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation service, El Oriente made four transatlantic voyages from New York and Norfolk to French ports between 13 August 1918 and 5 April 1919 to deliver cargo and animals for the Army. She was then reassigned to Cruiser and Transport Force and, after alterations for troops, sailed from New York 11 June for Bordeaux. She returned to Norfolk 4 July with 45 officers and 2,060 men of the 6th Cavalry on board, and after a similar voyage during July and August 1919, was decommissioned at Philadelphia 15 September 1919, and transferred to the Army for return to her owners the same day.
