USS Shelton (DE-407)

Shelton arrived at San Diego on 6 July and sailed for Pearl Harbor three days later. She stood out from Pearl Harbor on 26 July as part of a convoy proceeding to Eniwetok. The convoy arrived there on 6 August and was dissolved. Shelton was then assigned as a unit in the screen for Task Force 57 (TF 57) — composed of five carriers — and routed to Seeadler Harbor, Admiralty Island. After arriving there on 13 August, Shelton operated in the area until the following month when she was assigned to the Morotai Attack Force (TF 77). The DE was still off Morotai on 3 October in the screen for the escort carriers Fanshaw Bay and Midway when they were attacked by the Japanese submarine RO-41 at location 2°33′N 129°18′E / 2.550°N 129.300°E / 2.550; 129.300.^[1] A torpedo wake was sighted at 1,500 yd (1,400 m) heading for the escort. In evading it, Shelton was hit on the starboard screw by a second torpedo, which caused severe damage and flooding. Fellow destroyer escort Richard M. Rowell came alongside and removed the crew. Shelton was taken under tow but capsized and sank. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 27 November 1944.

Shelton received one battle star for World War II service. Thirteen of her crew were lost with the ship and remain on duty.

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• "Shelton". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved 14 March 2007.
• "USS Shelton (DE-407)". NavSource. Retrieved 14 March 2007.