From The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. I (1959), pp.115

Bellingham is a city in Washington.

(AK: dp. 10,800; l. 396', b. 53', dr. 27'; s. 10.5 k.; cpl. 70; cl. Bellingham)

Bellingham, a cargo vessel, was built in 1918 by Seattle Construction and Dry Dock Co., Seattle, Wash., under a Shipping Board contract; transferred to the Navy 30 October 1918, and commissioned the same day, Commander C. O. W Lofstrom, USNRF, in command.

Bellingham was assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service and as her first duty carried a cargo of nitrate from Arica, Chile to the east coast. She then carried rails and cotton from Charleston, S. C., to Europe. Upon her return Bellingham was decommissioned 10 May 1919 at Brooklyn, N. Y., and returned to the Shipping Board the same day.