Alshain AKA55 was launched 26 Jan. 1944 by Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.,Kearney, N.J., under a Maritime Commission contract; transferred to the Navy 31 March 1944; and commissioned 1 April 1944, Commander R.E Krause in command. Alshain reported for duty with the Pacific Fleet at Balboa, Canal Zone, 19 May 1944, and arrived at Pearl Harbor 2 June. She then loaded the cargo of the 305th Infantry Div., For the invasion of Guam. She remained off Guam, unloading between 21 July and 2 Aug., and then returned to Pearl Harbor where she embarked elements of the 32nd Infantry, 7th Infantry Div. for the projected landing at Yap. When the Yap operation was canceled in favor of the assault on Leyte, Alshain proceeded to the new objective. She remained off Leyte between 20 and 23 Oct. and then returned to Manus and Hollandia for reinforcenents. Departing Leyte on 19 Nov, she steamed to Finschhaffen, New Guinea; and Torokina Bougainville, to load for the Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, assault. After undergoing a heavy air attack (8 Jan. 1945) Alshain arrived off Lingayen Gulf the following day. Following several more air attacks, she retired to leyte; loaded elements of the 38th Infantry Div.; and steamed northward once again to the landings in Zambales Province, Luzon (29 Jan.). Once more Alshain retired to Leyte where for the next two months she assisted in the unloading and loading of cargo vessels. Alshain joined TF 51 for the invasion of Okinawa (1 April). She remained off Okinawa until 5 April and then returned to Seattle, for repairs, arriving 1 May. After further repairs at San Francisco, Alshain Proceeded to Guam. From there she made a voyage to Tugali and Noumea, New Caledonia, to secure base maintenance material. She returned to Guam 6 Sept. During the remainder of 1945 she continued logistic support of naval activities, until returning to Seattle 24 Dec. 1945. Between May 1946 and April 1951 she under Commander , Naval Transport Service, and after August 1949 , under Commander , Military Sea Transportation Service. During this period the majority of her service was in the Pacific, interspersed with a few brief voyages to the East coast. With the outbreak of the Korean Conflict, Alshain Carried elements of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade to Pusan, Korea, Arriving 2 August 1950.On 15 September1950, she took part in the assault on Inchon, Korea, and later (26 October) assisted in landing the 1st Marine Division at Wonsan, Korea. Returning to the west coast in December 1950, Alshain operated out of Long Beach until March 1951 when she was ordered to the Atlantic. Upon her arrival on the east coast she was taken out of MSTS (30 April 1951) and assigned to Amphibious Force, Atlantic. The ship was involved in a series of local operations and training exercises at Onslow Beach, North Carolina, through 4 August when she got underway for her first Mediterranean cruse. The ship replinished ships of the 6th fleet at Golfe Juan, France, then proceeded to Morocco. Early September found Alshain back in her homeport, Norfolk. In early January 1952, Alshain commenced her second Mediterrranean tour. From February through 16 March, the ship took part in Operation "Grand Slam," held in conjunction with naval units of NATO allies. She returned to Norfolk on 24 May. In January 1953, the ship moved to Boston for a period of repairs and alterations which lasted through mid-April. Following refresher training and local operations, Alshain got underway in August for a cruise to Yokohama with a cargo of equipment and personnel of Marine Air Group 11. She discharged her passengers and materials in Japan and got underway for her return trip on 16 September. She arrived back in Norfolk 22 October. In 1954, Alshain was engaged in a series of short training cruises and operations along the east coat. She began her last year of duty with a cruise to the Mediterranean. she visited ports in Algeria, Italy, Turkey, Greece, France and Spain. She left Barcelona on 14 May and set a course for home. Alshain decommissioned on 14 January 1956. Her name was struck from the Navy List on 1 July 1960. She was transferred to the Maritime Commission and laid up at Beaumont, Texas. Alshain earned five battle stars for her World War II service and three battle stars for Korean duty.