USS Shelton
DD 790 (Gearing Class)

Builder:       Todd-Pacific, Seattle
Laid Down:     May 31, 1945
Launched:      March 8, 1946
Commissioned:  June 21, 1946
Fate:          To Taiwan April 18, 1973

We are seeking information on the USS Shelton and her crews. Files and photos may be emailed to us and we will incorporate them into this page. When enough information has been assembled we will then build the ship her own section.

The Gearing Class as Constructed

          Displacement:  2,616 tons (3,460 tons full load)
          Length:        390 feet 6 inches
          Beam:          40 feet 10 inches
          Draught:       14 feet 4 inches (mean)
          Machinery:     four Babcock & Wilcox boilers;
                         2-shaft G.E.C. geared turbines
          Performance:   60,000 shp for 36.8 knots
          Bunkerage:     740 tons
          Range:         4,500 nautical miles at 20 knots
          Guns:          six 5 inch DP; twelve 40 mm;
                         eleven 20 mm
          Torpedoes:     ten 21 inch in two mounts

USS Shelton DD 790
Moving into position for fueling.
This photo was taken in 1962 off of Vietnam.
Photo courtesy David Q. Sayer

Date: Thu, 06 Nov 1997 11:20:38 -0500
From: "Stuart L.C.D.R. Caldwell" [email protected]
Subject: USS SHELTON DD 790

I REPORTED ABOARD THE SHELTON IN 1950 AND REMAINED ABOARD UNTIL THE FALL IF 1956.

THE SHELTON HAS AN EXCELLENT COMBAT RECORD. SHE WAS SERIOUSLY DAMAGED BY SHORE BATTERIES NEAR HUNGNAM, KOREA. RECEIVING ONE HIT, STARBOARD SIDE FWD AT THE WATER LINE. ANOTHER ROUND REMOVED THE AFT THREE INCH GUN TUB. NUMEROUS AIR BURSTS MADE THE FAINTAIL AREA LOOK LIKE A SIEVE.SEVERAL DEPTH CHARGES WERE BLOWN APART. THE MOST SERIOUS OF THE WOUNDED WAS A JR OFFICER WHO RECEIVED A HEAD WOUND. OUR DOCTOR, WHOM I BELIEVE WAS A THIRD CLASS CORPSMAN COULD NOT STOP THE BLEEDING. HOWEVER, HE KEPT HIM ALIVE UNTIL WE COULD CONTACT AN AUSSIE DD WHO PROVIDED A DR. TO SAVE HIS LIFE. WE ENTERED DRY DOCK IN SASEBO, JAPAN FOR TEMPORARY REPAIRS FOR OUR RETURN TO SAN DIEGO.

IF MEMORYSERVES ALL OF DESDIV 31 SHELTON, HIGBEE, EVERSOLE AND KEYES RECEIVED DAMAGE DURING THE CONFLICT. SHELTON WAS AWARDED NAVY OCCUPATION MEDAL (ASIA), CHINIA SERVICE MEDAL, KOREAN SERVICE MEDAL (SIX STARS), UNITED NATIONS SERVICE MEDAL, AND KOREAN PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION.

STUART N. CALDWELL, LCDR, ( RET. 1972, 25 YEARS SERVICE)
CULPEPER, VA..

Dear Richard,

I was surfing on the web and ran into your page. I am a member of the Shelton. To start off with, I have a roster from the 1996 reunion in San Diego. The last reunion was held in Long Island, NY and I do not have a roster update from that one. If you can use more things I have, you will be welcome to it. I do not have a good scanner, but the one I have may do OK. I also have news clippings and the ships logs of the time it was hit by shore fire in Korea. This was put together by another person so we would have to have permssion from him to copy it. I can probably get other information from other crew members that I am in contact with. Please advise me on the information you would like to have. Also if this information is in the proper form.

Robert Keoppell
19332 Oak Hillcrest Dr.
Robertsdale, AL 36567
[email protected]

Aas, James V. .......................... FT...............55-56
Adams, Russell .......................... ET 3............65-67
Allen, Richard C. ............... XO LCDR .........64-66
Alu, Robert ..............................RSMS............70-71
Atow, Robert..........................CO (Cdr)........64-66
Bacon, Melvin............................RD 3.............59-61
Bailey, Wilford M.................Chap. LT jg.......52-53
Baily, Doug...............................HTCS
Baily, Jim...............................Deck Coxn
Barclay, Charles..............................................52-55
Barney, Eugene E................OPS Radio.........67-68
Barresi, Vincent.................................................59
Baughan, Robert.................XO (RADM)......49-51
Beck, Randal
Belton, Phillip
Benson, Frank.......................CO,ASWens.....49-51
Berry, Stanley.............................WT................46
Biggs, Aubrey.............................Deck............48-49
Billings, William D......................BTSN...........51-54
Bishop, Henry K........................SMI............56-57
Blackburn, Duke
Bonner, Harry L........................YNC............50-52
Boudreaux, Robert L..........Eng. Off. LTjg......52-55
Bowers, Clinton K....................SOG 2..........58-62
Bridgman, Richard................Ops Off-LTjg.....51-54
Bromley, Martin..............................................52-55
Brown, Lee R............................BTC.............65-69
Bruhn, Richard...............................................48-50
Burd, John
Burke, Bill...................................BM3............48-52
Burt, Ron....................................PN 3............51-54
Busse, Phillip M........................Cook.............51-54
Caldwell, Stuart..........................BT 1.............51-57
Campbell, Les..............................FC..............49-52
Candy, Charleston...........................................47-48
Carey, James...................................................68-71
Carmichael, Jessie.....................Supply............65-66
Carter, Bert.................................SN...............51-52
Carter, George R.............................................51-57
Carter, H.N.
Cavasini, Al.............................Gunnery...........59-60
Charleston, Candy...........................................47-48
Chrysler, Fred.............................Deck............46-47
Coburn, Don ...............................BM.............50-52
Cogan, Wm. Ray Postal Clerk 51
Cole, Earl..................................MM 1............46-47
Cole, Richard
Collins, Arnold "Dean".................SN...............50-52
Conn, Robert......................................................53
Conn jr., L.................................LCDR...........52-54
Coplan, James R....................Pilot-Drone..........67
Corcoran, Terry
Cordes, Wm S............................BTC.............48-53
Correll, Robert E......................MMCS..........69-72
Coshow, Steven R..................Ops CIC.........61-64
Coulter, John D...............................................54-57
Cremeans, Jack L.....................MM..............55-56
Criswell, Robert..............................................50-54
Crocker, J. R..............................ETR2...........69-72
Curry, Donald..................................................46-47
Curry, Lester R..........................HMC...........59-60
Dale, Frank R....................EMC(CE W2)......55-56
Davis, Al.....................................BT...............71-73
Delegram, Herb...........................FCC............57-59
Denk, John..................................BT...............70-72
Dier, Donald D.
Dove, Tommie................................................47-49
Drengson, Rodger.......................RD...............67-69
Early, Joseph E.........................MMC............57-58
Earnest, Robert L.......................YN...............51-52
Ellis, Donald D.........................CAPT............63-65
Engfer, Richard B........................LT..............53-56
Evilsizer, R.
Ewing, Robert K......................Ops Stg.........68-70
Fatzinger, Frank..........................QM.............50-52
Fatzinger, Louis L.......................QM.............49-52
Ferrier, Tom
Fliegel, Robert A.............Gun LTjg LCDR.....63-65
Florang, Donald D......................FTC............60-62
Foder, William..........................OPS ET.........54-55
Fountain, Richard
Frazier, Paul...........................C.O. CDR.......53-55
Freeman, Richard.......................GMM3.........50-52
Frohman, Fred............................BT 2............48-52
Frost, Kenneth................................................52-53
Garcia, Julio J...........................MM 3............50-52
Gibson, Dan................................YN3............63-66
Gibson, Mark..............................EN3.............71-72
Gifford, James
Gimber, S. H........................C. O.(Capt).......48-49
Gonzales, Ernie............................Eng..............46-48
Gordan, Westley
Gossman, Ed............................ENG IC..........68-70
Graham, Jack E.........................RD 2.............52-55
Green, J. Don.......................Eng. Off LTjg......51-53
Gresens, Wm. "Bill"....................FN 1...............47
Grier, Jim....................................TM...............60-63
Gustafson, B. E....................C. O. (Capt.).........46
Hacker, Neil W..........................BT...............47-50
Hale, Sam G.
Halterman, Richard L.................QM .............48-51
Hand, Lorenzo....................XO (Deceasd)......55-58
Harkey, Wallace M.
Harsha, James........................OPS CIC..........46-49
Haska, Eddie
Haun, Frank E....................MM 3 (MM2).....57-60
Haun, Wm. G............................EM...............55-61
Hayes, John J............................QM 3............47-48
Haynes, Carter A.....................BDTC...............54
Hepfinger, William J.................Gun Off ..........51-53
Herzer, Don R.
Hight, Harold..............................GM 3
Hill, Charles A.........................Ens (LT)........50-51
Hilton, Lee...............................OPS RM ........46-48
Hoag, Leo..........................................................46
Hobbs, John W.
Hoffman, James R.....................MS 2............55-56
Hough, Thomas........................Shipfitter.........50-54
Howard, Bill
Howard, Dick.............................EM..............52-55
Huff, Kevin B.............................SK..............71-72
Hummel, Carson.......................BTFN............72-73
Huston, Larrry J........................RM 3.............62-64
Ison, James
Jackson, Cecil.............................SN..............52-55
James, Darrell S.........................ET...............56-58
Janetis, Stephen M.........................................51-53
Johnson, Barney.........................CSC............51-53
Jones, Robert T...........................PM 3..............52
Jowett, Harold.........................Signalman........68-70
Jungen, Erick...............................SO...............68-70
Keeton, John M.
Kelly, Gary
Kelly, Richard.................................................58-59
Kelly, Tom..................................FT...............57-58
Keoppell, Robert........................EM..............51-54
Kiesendahl, Jim
Klarich, Tony
Klien, Anthony R......................MM..............52-53
Klinefelter, P. C.......................Plank
Knudsen, Lorens
Koehne, Bernie...........................BM.................68
Kreps, Donald T........................BT..................54
Labyar, Petrer S......................CAPT
Lamberti, Victor..............................................63-68
Lamire, Loretta (Shelton)......Chistened DD 790-1946
Langstead, James B..................QM 1............52-56
Larson, Louis D........................RD 1.............60-65
Lawson, Carl R.
Lee , Sr., R.E.............................BT 3............Early 50"s
Leith, Rayford M.......................BTC.............49-50
Lendosky, Robert...................DeComm............70
Lickteigski, George A.....................................67-69
Light, A. L..................................CSC............58-60
Lindgren, Jim
Lobb, Keneth L..........................ETSN...........53-55
Louviere Jr., Levis J..................LTJG............51-53
Lovati, Robert R.......................QM...............52-56
Lucchesi, Lional L...................OPS Off..........63-65
Lucero, Mike
Lyons, James L.....................ENG DCO........47-48
Machette, M. L...............................................46-47 (P)
Madill, William G.......................ENS..................46 (P)
Magnusson, E. J..........................RD 3............46-47
Mangold, Vernon G....................TM 3............61-62
Marceau, Ray
Mark, Thomas R........................SO...............46-48
Markel, Arthur..........................GMGC..........68-70
Markowsky, Vincent.................MM 2
Marr, Wm. F..............................LT...............49-51
Martinez, Earnest L..................Supply............52-54
Massaro, Frank................................................Plank
Matsunaga, Roy.........................PERS............50-52
Matthews, Justin
Mayer, Wayne............................LT...............67-70
Mc Donald, John............................................46-48
Mc Lellen, Gordan.....................DC 3............66-70
Mc Murtry, John Lee
Mc Partland, Richard
McAurthur, James I....................LT...............51-53
McConville, James E............C.O. (last).........72-73
McDonald, Tom O................Supp Off...........48-50
McHale, Edward B. (Ed)..........LCDR...........55-58
McHugh, Jim.......................RD 3 RDM 1......46-47
McKinney, Jerry G.....................FC...............51-54
McSween, Mike
Miller, Ed...................................BM...............49-51
Miller, Ivan.................................................... 52-56
Millian, Earnest............................ET...............51-54
Milloer, Nelson D..................Comm Off........50-52
Mizwicki, Sigmond B..................SF...............50-51
Moore, John................................ET...............50-54
Morich, Petral "Pat".................TMC LT..........46-47(P)
Morley, Jack
Morrow Jr, Gordon S..............MMCS...........49-50
Moschette, Charles.....................PN...............52-53
Most, Karl..............................Eng. Dept...........50
Mulhern, Arthur F........................SF...............62-64
Muller, Walter............................Cook.............70-73
Myren, Donald C.
Myreng, Jack.........................OPS OSC........60-64
Neeble, Harold.....................SM D-COM......72-73
Nickerson, Eugene..........................................48-49
Noack, Clyde J..........................CS...............52-55
Northern, Jack.........................Eng. Dept........52-56
Northren, Richard...........................................53-55
Nunn, Geoffrey P.......................LT................63-65
O’Callaghan, Tom......................RM...............54-55
O’Leary, Carl............................MMC............47-50
Oliver, R. L.................................ET
Olson, Leroy...............................BTM............54-58
Overlease, Joe
Parmley, Walter
Parrott, George A..........................................46-49(P)
Pejakovich, Donald.........................................56-59
Peppel, Robert..................................................56
Perate, Frank..............................CSC............47-53
Peters, Fred L...........................RM...............51-54
Petrowich, Richard B............... QM 1............54-57
Pittman, Howard W.................SONAR..........54-57
Poling, H. A. "Bob".................SK 3 LT.......49-51
Polk, James G..........................COOK..........47-49
Powers, Duane...........................BTC.............51-55
Pycke, Marvin
Rambo, Newell...........................FTG.............68-71
Ramos, Thomas..........................SMC............46-54
Ramstead, Pete..........................EM 3............68-69
Rayburn, Jesse............................SK...............47-48
Reed, Jack..................................FTC............69-72
Reidelbach, Ted
Renney, Robert...........................BT................55-59
Richards, Daniel M.....................CS...............46-49
Richardson, Douglas E.....................................48-49
Richardson, Gearld
Richardson, James W.................PNC............57-60
Richman, Herbert....................Opps Off..........50-52
Rickert, Gerald W.....................CS 3.............52-55
Robbins, Lowell M................DCA/MPA.......62-65
Roberson, Red................................................47-48
Robinson, Thomas S..................MPA............63-65
Rodgers, David C......................RM..............71-73
Rodgers, Dick............................YNC............60-62
Romanick, Frank M....................CO.............60-62
Ronveaux, John A.
Rose, Elmer J.............................BTC............53-56
Rule, Roy...................................QMC...........49-52
Rutherford, Robert O..................LT..............52-53
Ryan, Raymond L...........................................50-52
Sansone, Joseph.............................................46-47(P)
Savage, Jack
Schmid, Walter...........................RM..............46-47(P)
Schroder, Glen C.
Schultz, John E...........................EM..............46-47
Schultz, Wm. G..........................DK..............50-52
Schumacker, Ray A.
Schweitzer, Lamar T..............LTjg LT.........50-52
Scott, Edwin...................................................51-53
Sears, Steohen..........................RM3..............67-68
Shelton, Leon H......................BROTHER
Shirey, Gerald A.......................MM..............53-55
Shortridge, Russell R.................TM 1.............51-54
Siemienczuk, John F.................RMC.............57-58
Skaggs, Roy A.........................MM 1............46-54
Smiley, Charles H.
Smith, Donald R.........................BT................51-55
Smith, Gerald..................................................46-47
Smith, Henry H..............................................64-66
Smith, Jack
Smith, Jack L.............................FT................51-54
Smith, Leon W..........................IC 3..............65-68
Sousley, C.D.
Spicer, Gene..............................TE 3..............51-54
Spiers, Al....................................FN...............46-47
Spiers, Francis A.............................................46-47
St.Pierre, Danny........................GM 3.............66-69
Stamper, John............................MM...............49-52
Stango, James J..............................................46-47(P)
Stanton, Robert F...................Gun Off...........47-50
Stark, Richard T.............................................46-47
Steger, Bob................................CSC.............60-62
Stevens, Forrest W.
Stilley, Tom.................................FC...............46-48
Stoffer, Maurice....................LT (CAPT).......50-51
Strommer, John...........................BT2.............51-53
Strong,John
Sullan, Hugo...............................OPS.............50-52
Sullivan, John L.....................MPA/DCA.......65-67
Sullivan, Walter.......................Post Clerk........72-73
Swanson, Lawrence R...............FN..................52
Swanson, Neil L.........................ETR2...........61-64
Swift, Doug
Syster, James A.............................................50-54
Taylor, Dave...............................ENG............68-69
Tettemer, James H.
Tettemer, Robert W.
Thompson, David
Thompson, Ed W......................YN...............51-54
Thornhill Jr., H.E. "Tim"........XO (CAPT)......55-57
Tintzman, Elmer
Tipps, Robert L..........................MM..............48-56
Tonielli, Joseph B......................MM..............64-65
Totino, Al...................................DCA.............48-51
Travers, Dean..................................................50-54
Tronquet, Dennis
Tucker, Ken................................DCA...........63-64
Umberger, Paul J........................CDR............63-65
Vandergriff, Gary.......................Supply...........65-68
Vaught, Ted G...................................................55
Veden, Dale................................RD...............51-53
Venneri, Thomas A....................SMC............66-67
Viall, James H.............................SMC............66-67
Vigil, Atilano "Lonnie".....................................60-64
Volk, Frank E................................................57-60
Wagner, Paul R.........................XO...............57-59
Walker, John.....................................................46
Wallace, Hank............................SO...............69-70
Weatherford, R. E. "Sonny".........EM..............52-55
Webster, Mrs D. L................Widow of XO
Webster, Neil............................MM3.............68-72
Weighing, Robert
Welch, John...............................SS E3...........71-73
Welch, Mike
White, Lawrence D...................GMC............46-49 (P)
Whitelaw, Robert........................LTjg.............50-52
Wilding, Everett
Wiley, Orion L.......................Opp CIC.........47-50
Wilkerson, Kenneth....................DC...............50-55
Willhite, Paul...................................................58-62
Wills, Jack..........................................................63-69
Winger, Paul.........................Sonar LTjg.........50-52
Wingert, F. J. "John"..................MM...............51-54
Winner, Jack......................................................64
Winters, Jim..........................Postal Clerk.......46-47
Wise, Patrick H.......................BT2/C..............46 (P)
Zdarko, Damien..........................RM...............70-72
Zimmerman, Jack........................LT
Zubaugh, Bob............................ETN3............64-66