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USS Shelton DD-790

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The second Shelton (DD-790) was laid down on 31 May 1945 by Todd Pacific Shipyards Inc., Seattle Wash.; launched on 8 March 1946; sponsored by Mrs. Loretta Shelton Miller; and commissioned on 21 June 1946, Comdr. C. L. Werts in command.

Shelton began her shakedown cruise on 20 July and returned to Seattle for post shakedown availability. She moved down the coast to San Diego on 12 October and on 9 November, stood out of that port en route to the western Pacific for her first tour of duty with the 7th Fleet. While serving with that fleet, 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 Bremerton 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 7th 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 at the end of July. She was in drydock there during October and November and, following sea trials, returned to San Diego in January 1950.

Shelton sailed west again on 1 May 1950. When hostilities began in Korea, on 25 June, the destroyer was a unit of Task Force (TF) 77, the Striking Force of the 7th Fleet. She served on both coasts of Korea until returning to San Diego on 8 February 1951. After six months in the states, she was on her wav back to the war zone in late August. As a fleet destroyer, she served with TF 72, 77, 95, 96, and 97.

Shelton also participated in special bombardment missions. With Helena (CA-75) at Hungnam on 25 October, she was taken under fire by enemy shore batteries and sustained one near miss. She was assigned to the bombline with St. Paul (CA-73) in December; and, for a week, they shelled rail lines bridges, and other targets of opportunity. In January 1952, they bombarded the Songjin area.

Assigned to TG 95 the following month, Shelton,, aided in the defense of Yang Do when North Korean forces attempted to land on that island. The action lasted from 0130 until 1100 and resulted in the landings being repulsed with heavy losses. Still in the area on the 22d, the destroyer was taken under fire by five communist batteries on the mainland. She sustained four direct hits and approximately 50 near misses. Her losses were 12 casualties and a five-foot hole in the bow, but she silenced the batteries and remained on station for two more days before retiring to Saseho for repairs. She then returned to the Korean coast.

Shelton returned to San Diego on 10 April where she began an upkeep period and then conducted local operations until 13 November. On that date, the destroyer sailed for its third tour of duty in the Far East during the Korean War. She arrived at Sasebo on 1 December 1952 for a three-day tender availability before joining TF 77. She operated with that task force for 40 days before entering Yokosuka for an upkeep period. Ready for sea on 26 January 1953, the destroyer joined the Formosa Patrol. Her next assignment was in Wonsan Harbor for 40 days, after which she again joined TF 95. Her deployment ended on the west coast on 29 June

Feb. 19, 1952 - USS Shelton (DD 790) and Taupo, a New Zealand frigate, destroyed 45 enemy sampans off the east coast of North Korea. A few sampans made it to the beach only to be captured by a company of South Korea Marines commanded by 1st Lt. Joseph Bartos, USMC.

USS Shelton (DD-790) moderate damage after 3 hits from a shore battery at Songjin, North Korea, 15 casualties, 22 February 1952.

USS Shelton DD-790, named for ENS James A. Shelton, killed in action at the Battle of Midway, June 4-6, 194

Action at Yang-Do