The USS Odum (APD-71) was a Buckley-class destroyer escort laid down on October 15, 1943, and launched on January 19, 1944. It was commissioned as a high-speed transport on January 12, 1945, under Lt. Comdr. John A. Cromly’s command with the hull number APD-71 and served in the U.S. Navy for 2 years until it was decommissioned on November 15, 1946. During its activity, the ship carried a complement of 186 men on board and had its main missions in Bermuda, the Panama Canal, Hawaii, San Diego, the Philippines, Ulithi Atoll, and Japan. After the decommissioning, the ship was struck from the Navy List but the exact date is unknown. On November 15, 1966, the USS Odum was sold to Chile where it was renamed Serrano (APD-26). Many Navy veterans have been at risk of asbestos exposure in a prevalent number of ways including during construction, repair, renovation, or demolition of the thousands of vessels containing asbestos. Anyone who has worked onboard the USS Odum (APD-71) or has been involved in her repair should be on the alert for signs of asbestos-related diseases and consult a doctor immediately if they experience any associated symptoms.
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