USS Sutton (DE-771)

Shelton Beverly Sutton, Jr., born in Brewton, Ga., on 21 August 1919, was appointed ensign, USNR, on 21 April 1941. On 12 February 1942, Sutton was ordered to the 3d Naval District to await transportation to light cruiser Juneau (CL-52). He reported for duty in the new ship on 2 March 1942. Ens . Sutton was killed on 13 November 1942 when Juneau was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-26 and sunk with heavy loss of life in the aftermath of the nocturnal naval Battle of Guadalcanal.

William C. Cole (DE-286), a Rudderow -class destroyer escort, was renamed Sutton on 18 September 1943, but the contract for her construction by the Bethlehem Steel Co., Hingham, Mass., w as cancelled on 12 March 1944.

The unnamed destroyer escort DE-771 was laid down on 23 August 1943 by the Tampa Shipbuilding Co., Tampa, Fla.; named Sutton on 30 March 1944; launched on 6 August 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Shelton B. Sutton, Sr. mother of the late Ens. Sutton; and commissioned on 22 December 1944, Lt. Thomas W. Nazro, D-V(S), USNR, in command.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Sutton (DE-771)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.