▁January ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁and ▁completed ▁as ▁an ▁L ST ▁by ▁Dra vo ▁Cor p . ▁on ▁ 2 6 ▁March ▁ 1 9 4 3 . ▁Pla ced ▁in ▁reduced ▁commission ▁on ▁that ▁date , ▁she ▁was ▁to wed ▁to ▁T ampa , ▁Florida , ▁where ▁she ▁was ▁converted ▁to ▁a ▁motor ▁tor ped o ▁boat ▁tender ▁( AG P ), ▁and ▁commission ed ▁on ▁ 3 1 ▁August ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁L t . ▁Com dr . ▁L . ▁W . ▁Bor st , ▁US NR , ▁in ▁command . ▁ ▁Service ▁history ▁▁ 1 9 4 3 ▁ ▁Following ▁her ▁sh aked own ▁in ▁the ▁G ulf ▁of ▁Mexico , ▁Var una ▁sa iled ▁for ▁the ▁Pacific ▁on ▁ 4 ▁October ▁and ▁proceeded ▁via ▁Gu ant an amo ▁Bay , ▁Cuba , ▁to ▁the ▁Pan ama ▁Canal ▁which ▁she ▁trans ited ▁on ▁the ▁ 2 2 nd . ▁When ▁two ▁days ▁out ▁of ▁Bal boa , ▁the ▁ship ▁left ▁the ▁con voy ▁to ▁receive ▁an ▁emer gency ▁app ende ct omy ▁patient ▁from ▁L ST - 2 1 9 . ▁Following ▁a ▁successful ▁transfer , ▁and ▁while ▁ste aming ▁to ▁re join ▁the ▁con voy , ▁Var una ▁and ▁L ST - 2 1 9 ▁coll ided ▁on ▁ 2 7 ▁October . ▁There ▁were ▁no ▁cas ual ties ▁in ▁either ▁ship , ▁but ▁the ▁damage ▁sust ained ▁forced ▁both ▁vessels ▁to ▁return ▁to ▁Pan ama ▁for ▁rep airs . ▁ ▁D ry d