Cavalier (APA-37) served as an attack transport of the Bayfield class. Western Pipe and Steel at San Francisco launched her on 15 March 1943, and she was commissioned on 15 January 1944.
Off Leyte she held beside the beach until unloading was finished and casualties were aboard, staying through 23 October 1944. She then cleared for Manus as the Battle of Leyte Gulf was about to open. On 18 November she was at Leyte again, bringing reinforcements that had been loaded in New Guinea.
A Coast Guard officer serving in her saw action at Saipan and at Tinian, where her boats set Marines ashore.
As she drew away from Lingayen Gulf, her gun crews opened on a suicide aircraft and watched it strike DuPage (APA-41). Five battle stars stand on her wartime record.