Beckham- APA-133

Beckham

Beckham is a county in Oklahoma.

(APA-133: dp. 6873; 1. 455'; b. 62'; dr. 24'; s. 17.5 k.;
cpl. 536; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

Beckham (APA-133) was launched 14 October 1944 by California Shipbuilding Corp., Los Angeles, Calif., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. Frank J. Connolly; transferred to the Navy 9 December 1944; and commissioned the following day, Captain A. Sodergren in command.

Beckham carried troops and cargo from Pearl Harbor to Eniwetok, Marshall Islands; Ulithi, Caroline Islands; the Marianas; and Okinawa until 5 September 1945. With the cessation of hostilities Beckham operated out of Okinawa on occupation duty until departing for the United States 7 January 1946. Arriving at Norfolk, Va., 7 March 1946, she was decommissioned there 25 April 1946 and returned to the Maritime Commission four days later.

Beckham received two battle stars for carrying reinforcements to Iwo Jima (2-9 March 1945) and Okinawa (24-27 June 1945).