USS Pinkney, a 11,500 ton evacuation transport, was built in Oakland, California. Originally intended for civilian use under the name Alcoa Corsair, she was taken over by the Navy while still under construction and commissioned in November 1942. During 1943 and most of 1944, Pinkney operated in the South Pacific, evacuating the wounded and sick from the combat zones to rear areas and providing general transportation services. From September 1944 through April 1945, she took part in operations to capture the Palaus, the Philippines and Okinawa, taking in combat forces and taking out injured men. On 28 April 1945, while off Okinawa, she was crashed by a Kamikaze, receiving damage and casualties. Following repairs, Pinkney spent the last part of 1945 and the first months of 1946 supporting the occupation of Japan and returning veterans to the United States.

In September 1946, Pinkney was transferred to the U.S. Army Transportation Service and reentered service as the U.S. Army Transport Private Elden H. Johnson in 1947. In March 1950, she was taken over by the Military Sea Transportation Service and became U.S. Naval Ship (USNS) Private Elden H. Johnson (T-AP-184). She operated mainly in the Atlantic area until December 1957, when she was placed out of service, stricken from the Navy List and transferred to the Maritime Administration.

USS Pinkney was named in honor of Medical Director Ninian Pinkney, USN, who had a distinguished career before, during and after the Civil War.