Odum API-71

Odum
(API) 71:dp.2130(f.);1.306';b.37';dr.13';s.24k.,cpl. 374 a. 1 5", 6 40mm., 6 20mm.; GL Charles La~vrence)

Odum was laid down as DE-670, 15 October 1943, by the Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, Tex.; launched 19 January 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Katherine Odum, mother of Fireman First Class Joseph Odum; converted to a high speed transport and redesignated APD-71 on 27 June 1944; commissioned 12 January 1945, Lt. Comdr. John A. Comly in command.

Following shakedown off Bermuda, Odum transited the Panama Canal and proceeded up the Pacific coast to San Diego, whence she sailed, 16 May, for Hawaii. There she completed amphibious training off Maui; took on underwater demolition gear; and headed west. Diseharging her eargoat Guam, she proceeded to Ulithi, whence she escorted transport SS Kote Baroe to Leyte, arriving 29 June. From Leyte, escort missions took her again to Ulithi, thence to Hollandia, and back to Leyte. There, in mid-August, she joined TF 33 and,
on the 31st, got underway to escort occupation-troop transports to Japan. Arriving 8 September, she departed again on the 12th to escort transports carrying former POWs to the Philippines.

Odum remained in the Far East supporting the occupation of Japan until late November, when she headed back to the United States. Assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, she operated in TransRon 2 along the east coast and off Cuba and Puerto Rico until entering the Charleston, S.C., Naval Shipyard for inactivation 26 July 1946 and decommissioned at Green Cove Springs, Fla. 15 November. Later transferred to the Texas Group, Odum remained in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet until sold under the Military Assistanee Program to the government of Chile, and struck from thc Navy List, 1 December 1966.