Background
Joseph Roy Odum was born in Jacksonville, Florida, on 9 February 1913.
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Joseph Odum
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He enlisted in the United States. Navy on 20 June 1934. On 15 October 1942, Fireman First Class Odum was a gunner on the destroyer United States Ship Meredith (Doctor of Divinity-434) when she was sunk by Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft from the aircraft carrier Zuikaku. He remained at his battle station after the order to abandon ship had been given so he could protect his shipmates in the water from being strafed by Japanese planes.
He was still firing when the ship went under and was lost with the ship.
The United States. Navy destroyer escort United States Ship Odum (Delaware-670) was named for Fireman First Class Odum. She was converted during construction into the high-speed transport United States Ship Odum (APD-71) and was in commission as such from 1945 to 1946.
Achievements
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Born
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Died
October 15, 1942 (aged 29) -
Nationality
United States