Talladega was laid down 3 June 1944, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MCV hull 556, by Permanente Metals Corporation, Yard No.

The attack transport conducted amphibious landing exercises with elements of the 28th Regimental Combat Team (RCT), 5th Marine Division, to prepare for the assault on the Volcano Islands.

[4] Four Marines pictured in Joe Rosenthal's famous flag-raising photograph debarked from Talladega to climb Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima: Ira Hayes, Franklin Sousley, Harlon Block, and Mike Strank.

The next day, now taking part in Operation Magic Carpet, she loaded 1,934 veterans at Samar and sailed for the United States.

When Talladega returned to San Francisco in July, she began preparations for inactivation and assignment to the Reserve Fleet.

She operated along the west coast until November 1952, when she embarked aviation personnel at San Francisco and steamed westward as a unit of Transport Division 12.

During the next nine months, the transport provided amphibious training for the United Nations forces in Japan and redeployed troops from one area in Korea to another.

She worked along both coasts, transporting troops and supplies to such ports as Inchon, Koje-Do, and Sokcho, before returning to San Diego on 15 August 1953.

[2][5] In 1965, when United States forces assumed a combat role in South Vietnam, Talladega stood out of Long Beach on 27 April, for duty with the 7th Fleet.

Following upkeep at Subic Bay, the attack transport moved to Okinawa to combat load the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, for passage to Vietnam.

On 12 September, she joined Task Group 76.3 which, in mid-September and early October, conducted the first two raids by a Navy-Marine Corps team in the Vietnam War.

Elements of the 11th Infantry Brigade were transported to Hawaii in July; and, after calling at Guam, Talladega proceeded to Subic Bay.

The transport arrived at Yokosuka on 7 September, loaded supplies for Operation Hand Clasp, and headed for Korea the next day.

After calling at Hong Kong, Buckner Bay, and Pearl Harbor, she arrived at Long Beach, California, on 1 December 1967.