Pocomoke was built as a civilian freight boat of the same name by Brewster Brothers at Baltimore, Maryland. The U.S. Navy acquired her from her owner, the Fish Commission of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in 1917 for World War I service as a patrol vessel. She was commissioned on 24 April 1917 as USS Pocomoke (SP-571).
Pocomoke operated on section patrol duty for the rest of World War I.
The Navy returned Pocomoke to the Fish Commission on 22 October 1918.
Pocomoke should not be confused with USS Pocomoke (SP-265), a minesweeper also in commission during World War I.