The USS Repose (AH-16) was built as Marine Beaver, a type C4 class ship, in 1943 by Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Chester, Pennsylvania.

Launched on August 8, 1944, she was sponsored by Mrs. Pauline P. McIntire, and was acquired for conversion to a hospital ship by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, in Brooklyn, New York.

The Repose was activated on August 26, 1950 and sailed for Pusan, Korea, picking up the navy crew in Yokosuka, Japan en route.

Serving in Korean waters and evacuating patients to Japanese ports as necessary, the Repose remained on station until early 1954 with a short repair period in San Francisco from February to March 1953 and the installation of a helicopter landing pad.

Operating mainly in the I Corps area, she served as the medical care site for more than 9,000 battle casualties and 24,000 inpatients while deployed.