nˈiːldz wʌz lˈeɪd dˌaʊn ˌɔn fˈɪftiːn dʒˈuːn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi tˈuː baɪ ðə bˈɛθlɛhəm stˈiːl kˈʌmpəni, fˈɔːɹ ɹˈɪvɚ, mˌæsɐtʃˈuːsɪts; lˈɑːntʃt ˌɔn wˈʌn ɑːktˈoʊbɚ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi tˈuː; spˈɑːnsɚd baɪ mˈɪs ˈɛlə ˈɛs. nˈiːldz, dˈɔːɾɚɹ ʌv luːtˈɛnənt kəmˈændɚ nˈiːldz; ænd kəmˈɪʃənd æt ðə bˈɔstən nˈeɪvi jˈɑːɹd ˌɔn fˈɪftiːn dʒˈænjuːˌɛɹi nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi θɹˈiː.
Nields was laid down on 15 June 1942 by the Bethlehem Steel Company, Fore River, Massachusetts; launched on 1 October 1942; sponsored by Miss Ella S. Nields, daughter of Lieutenant Commander Nields; and commissioned at the Boston Navy Yard on 15 January 1943.