Bowie was named for a county in Texas. California Shipbuilding at Wilmington launched her on 31 October 1944 under a Maritime Commission contract, and Mrs. J. Shaw sponsored the ship. The Navy accepted her on 22 December. Commissioning followed on 23 December, and Commander F. L. Durnell was placed in command. She reported to the Pacific Fleet.
From 20 February until 27 July 1945 her base was Pearl Harbor. Troop and cargo runs from there reached Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands, and also Guam, Saipan, Ulithi, and Okinawa. One separate passage, from 17 June to 14 July, started at San Francisco and went out by Eniwetok and Ulithi to Leyte. Her share of the Okinawa operation, 10 to 16 May 1945, was recognized with a battle star.
She remained at Pearl Harbor from 27 July to 1 September, then steamed west into Japanese waters. Between 22 September and 22 October she supported the occupation.
Back in the United States, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard decommissioned her on 8 March 1946. The Maritime Commission took her back on 14 March.