USS Shelton (DD-790)

The second Shelton was named to honor the late Ens. James A. Shelton, A-V(N), USNR, (1916-1942) who received a posthumous Navy Cross for his heroism in the Battle of Midway, and also perpetuates the name of the ship named in his honor, the escort vessel Shelton (DE-407), torpedoed and irreparably damaged by the Japanese submarine RO-41 on 3 October 1944, that sank during her attempted salvage.

Shelton began her shakedown cruise on 20 July 1946 and returned to Seattle for post-shakedown availability. She moved down the coast to San Diego, Calif., on 12 October and, on 9 November, stood out of that port en route to the western Pacific (WestPac) for her first tour of duty with the Seventh Fleet. While serving therein, she visited ports in China, Korea, and Japan. The destroyer returned to the west coast on 22 June 1947 and conducted local operations in the San Diego area. The destroyer underwent overhaul at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash., from January to April 1948. After moving to San Diego on 19 April, Shelton operated along the California coast until sailing for WestPac and the Seventh Fleet on 1 September. The seven-month deployment ended on 24 April 1949 when she sailed back into San Diego.

In June, Shelton participated in a Midshipman training cruise which took her to Balboa, C.Z., and terminated in San Francisco, Calif., at the end of July. She was in dry dock there during October and November and, following sea trials, returned to San Diego in January 1950.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Shelton II (DD-790)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.