USS Zeilin, a 21,900-ton transport, was built in 1920 at Newport News, Virginia, as the passenger liner Silver State. She was employed in merchant service from 1922 to 1940 under the name President Jackson. Acquired by the Navy in June 1940, she was converted to a transport and commissioned in February 1942. During the next year, Zeilin made a round-trip voyage to the South Pacific, then took part in the Guadalcanal Campaign, during which she was damaged by Japanese air attack on 9 November 1942. Following repairs, and reclassification as an attack transport (APA-3), she participated in operations in Alaskan waters, including the landings at Attu in May 1943 and at Kiska in August. From late 1943 to mid-1944, Zeilin carried troops for the invasions of Tarawa, Kwajalein and the Marianas.

After an overhaul, Zeilin returned to the Pacific war zone, and, in January 1945, transported troops for the invasion of Luzon. While withdrawing from the invasion area on 13 January, she was damaged by a Japanese Kamikaze plane. However, she was able to remain in operation and took part in the Iwo Jima operation during the next month before returning to the U.S. for repairs. The Pacific War ended in August 1945 as Zeilin was again entering the combat area, and she spent the next few months on occupation service and in transporting personnel back to the United States. From November 1945 to January 1946, she operated along the West coast, then steamed through the Panama Canal to the East coast, where she was decommissioned in June 1946. USS Zeilin was then transferred to the Maritime Commission, which retained her until she was sold for scrapping in May 1948.