William Thomas Odem, Jr.
William Thomas Odem, Jr. was born on 24 March 1926. He was the Grandson of Dave Odem, a veteran of the Battle of San Jacinto, a Texas Ranger, and the Man whom Odem, Texas was named after. William “Bill” Odem was in high school in Kerrville, Texas when World War II started. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1943 and graduated high school in 1944. On 8 March 1944, with his Mothers written consent; Mr. Odem enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in San Antonio, Texas. Upon Entrance into the United States Marine Corps, Mr. Odem would spend the next 5 months training at Camp Joseph H. Pendleton to become a Mortar Crewman. On 20 August 1944, Mr. Odem was transferred to the 9th Replacement Draft and departed from San Diego, California on 10 September 1944. At this time, Mr. Odem informed his parents that he was heading overseas and his Mom gave him a small missal that he would wear in his jacket.
Mr. Odem’s father was a hero of World War I whom was wounded by gas during a major German offensive. Naturally, Mr. Odem’s mother was worried that she signed for her son to put his life into harm’s way. Mr. Odem’s family started a routine on the day that he was shipped overseas. Every night the Odem Family, Bill’s Mom, his Dad, and two of his sisters; would gather around their family’s rosary and Pray for their son and brothers safe return in the name of "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.” The will and strong belief of the Odem Family would prove to be a safe guard for Mr. Odem as he would join the 1st Provisional Rocket Detachment, 4th Marine Division on 12 November 1944 and would soon be landing during one of the most costly and well known Battles in Marine Corps History.
On 27 January 1945, the 1st Provisional Rocket Detachment departed Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii aboard the USS Pickens. The men wouldn’t be briefed of their objective until they were well underway headed for Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands. Mr. Odem and the men in his detachment would arrive and disembark at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on 19 February 1945. The 1st Provisional Rocket Battalion was a highly effective combat unit, especially during the Battle of Iwo Jima. “A good crew could launch a “ripple” of 36 rockets within a matter of seconds, providing a blanket of high explosives on the target. This the infantry loved-but each launching always drew heavy return fire from the Japanese who feared what they thought was “Automatic Artillery.””
One instance of counter battery fire on the Rocket Detachment can be seen in the Movie “Sands of Iwo Jima” Starring John Wayne. Director Allan Dwan used stock footage that was filmed by the United States Coast Guard during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Roughly at 1 Hour 37 Minutes 51 Seconds you can see a Rocket Truck named “Vis A Vergo” and its crew moving down an open road full of craters. All of a sudden you see the Rocket Truck crew diving into the craters as enemy counter battery fire is coming in. One of the men in this crew was William T. Odem, Jr., he would receive minor shrapnel wounds earning the Purple Heart and would continue to fight with the survivors of his crew. The two Coast Guardsmen filming this scene both were instantly killed by the enemy artillery, Mr. Odem was very fortunate to have survived this encounter as well as the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Mr. Odem would fight on Iwo Jima for a total of 28 days before embarking aboard the USS President Polk and would return to Maui, Territory of Hawaii. Upon his arrival at Camp Maui on 4 April 1945, Mr. Odem received a very special gift from his family back at home. A Birthday cake that his mom had made him, wrapped it in cellophane, and shipped it overseas, his 19th Birthday was on 24 March 1945. At this point, Mr. Odem had not written to tell his parents about his wounds, they were very upset when the Red Cross visited them to inform them of his wounds. Mr. Odem would remain in Maui, Territory of Hawaii for the remainder of the war until being shipped stateside and arriving in the states on 6 April 1946. Mr. Odem was then transferred to the Casual Company at Camp Pendleton and Honorably Discharged from the United States Marine Corps on 23 April 1946.
Having served 2 Years and 1 Month in the United States Marines Corps, Mr. Odem was a proud Marine and hero; not only to his family and friends, but to an entire Nation. He was a proud crewmember of the Rocket Truck “Vis A Vergo” which is the only surviving USMC rocket truck from World War II. That truck is currently on display at the Mechanical Museum at Camp Joseph H. Pendleton in San Diego, California.
In 1972, William T. Odem, Jr. and his family would take a memory trip to Camp Maui, Hawaii for Father’s Day. On that day, Mr. Odem’s oldest daughter gave him a book titled “The United States Marine Corps during World War II.” Upon accepting the gift, Mr. Odem replied “I don’t need to read about it, I lived it!” The Odem Families most memorable trip was in 2001 when Mr. Odem invited his family to attend the commissioning of the USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) in Pensacola, Florida. Mr. Odem was a Proud Marine and a Charter Member of the World War II Memorial Society.
Mr. Odem’s father was a hero of World War I whom was wounded by gas during a major German offensive. Naturally, Mr. Odem’s mother was worried that she signed for her son to put his life into harm’s way. Mr. Odem’s family started a routine on the day that he was shipped overseas. Every night the Odem Family, Bill’s Mom, his Dad, and two of his sisters; would gather around their family’s rosary and Pray for their son and brothers safe return in the name of "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.” The will and strong belief of the Odem Family would prove to be a safe guard for Mr. Odem as he would join the 1st Provisional Rocket Detachment, 4th Marine Division on 12 November 1944 and would soon be landing during one of the most costly and well known Battles in Marine Corps History.
On 27 January 1945, the 1st Provisional Rocket Detachment departed Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii aboard the USS Pickens. The men wouldn’t be briefed of their objective until they were well underway headed for Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands. Mr. Odem and the men in his detachment would arrive and disembark at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on 19 February 1945. The 1st Provisional Rocket Battalion was a highly effective combat unit, especially during the Battle of Iwo Jima. “A good crew could launch a “ripple” of 36 rockets within a matter of seconds, providing a blanket of high explosives on the target. This the infantry loved-but each launching always drew heavy return fire from the Japanese who feared what they thought was “Automatic Artillery.””
One instance of counter battery fire on the Rocket Detachment can be seen in the Movie “Sands of Iwo Jima” Starring John Wayne. Director Allan Dwan used stock footage that was filmed by the United States Coast Guard during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Roughly at 1 Hour 37 Minutes 51 Seconds you can see a Rocket Truck named “Vis A Vergo” and its crew moving down an open road full of craters. All of a sudden you see the Rocket Truck crew diving into the craters as enemy counter battery fire is coming in. One of the men in this crew was William T. Odem, Jr., he would receive minor shrapnel wounds earning the Purple Heart and would continue to fight with the survivors of his crew. The two Coast Guardsmen filming this scene both were instantly killed by the enemy artillery, Mr. Odem was very fortunate to have survived this encounter as well as the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Mr. Odem would fight on Iwo Jima for a total of 28 days before embarking aboard the USS President Polk and would return to Maui, Territory of Hawaii. Upon his arrival at Camp Maui on 4 April 1945, Mr. Odem received a very special gift from his family back at home. A Birthday cake that his mom had made him, wrapped it in cellophane, and shipped it overseas, his 19th Birthday was on 24 March 1945. At this point, Mr. Odem had not written to tell his parents about his wounds, they were very upset when the Red Cross visited them to inform them of his wounds. Mr. Odem would remain in Maui, Territory of Hawaii for the remainder of the war until being shipped stateside and arriving in the states on 6 April 1946. Mr. Odem was then transferred to the Casual Company at Camp Pendleton and Honorably Discharged from the United States Marine Corps on 23 April 1946.
Having served 2 Years and 1 Month in the United States Marines Corps, Mr. Odem was a proud Marine and hero; not only to his family and friends, but to an entire Nation. He was a proud crewmember of the Rocket Truck “Vis A Vergo” which is the only surviving USMC rocket truck from World War II. That truck is currently on display at the Mechanical Museum at Camp Joseph H. Pendleton in San Diego, California.
In 1972, William T. Odem, Jr. and his family would take a memory trip to Camp Maui, Hawaii for Father’s Day. On that day, Mr. Odem’s oldest daughter gave him a book titled “The United States Marine Corps during World War II.” Upon accepting the gift, Mr. Odem replied “I don’t need to read about it, I lived it!” The Odem Families most memorable trip was in 2001 when Mr. Odem invited his family to attend the commissioning of the USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) in Pensacola, Florida. Mr. Odem was a Proud Marine and a Charter Member of the World War II Memorial Society.