Laid down as steam passenger ship Jadwin, completed in January 1921 as Hawkeye State for US Shipping Board (USSB). 1923 renamed President Pierce for the Dollar SS Co, later transferred to the American President Lines Ltd, San Francisco CA. On 31 Jul, 1941, chartered by the US Army as troop transport USAT Hugh L. Scott and made four Far East voyages. On 7 Sep, 1942, the ship was commissioned in the US Navy as troop transport USS Hugh L. Scott (AP 43) after being converted by the Todd Shipbuilding & Drydock Co, Hoboken NJ. She received one battle star for her World War 2 service.

USS Hugh L. Scott (AP 43) (Capt Harold J. Wright) was participating in Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa, in the Task Group 34.9 (Center Attack Group, Western Naval Task Force) as part of the convoy UGF-1.
At 18.28 hours on 12 Nov, 1942, U-130 fired five torpedoes on three transports (USS Edward Rutledge (AP 52), USS Hugh L. Scott (AP 43) and USS Tasker H. Bliss (AP 42)) at anchor in the heavily guarded Fedhala Roads. All torpedoes hit their targets, causing the first and the second ship to sink quickly. USS Tasker H. Bliss burned until 02.30 hours the next morning and finally sank. U-130 reported her victims by their former civilian names.