USS SHELTON (DD-790)

• Namesake: USS Shelton (DD-790) was named after Ensign James A. Shelton, a naval aviator who was killed during the Battle of Midway in June 1942. • Gearing-class Destroyer: Shelton was a Gearing-class destroyer, launched on 8 April 1946 and commissioned on 21 June 1946, serving as part of the post-World War II U.S. Navy expansion. • Korean War Service: Shelton participated in the Korean War, conducting shore bombardments, screening aircraft carriers, and performing patrol duties along the Korean coast. • Vietnam War Deployments: The ship saw extensive action during the Vietnam War, providing naval gunfire support, search and rescue, and plane guard services for aircraft carriers in the Gulf of Tonkin. • FRAM Modernization: During the early 1960s, Shelton underwent the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) program, receiving significant upgrades to her weaponry and anti-submarine capabilities. • Rescue Operations: Shelton was involved in rescuing downed American pilots off the coast of Vietnam, a vital and dangerous mission during the conflict. • International Exercises: The destroyer participated in various joint exercises with allied navies, including SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization) operations and voyage exercises with Japanese and Philippine navies. • Decommissioning and Foreign Service: USS Shelton was decommissioned from U.S. service in 1973 and transferred to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy, where she served as ROCS Lao Yang (DD-20). • Decorations: The ship earned five battle stars for her service during the Korean War and an additional six battle stars during the Vietnam War. • Legacy and Fate: After a long and distinguished career, ROCS Lao Yang was decommissioned and later scrapped, but USS Shelton’s legacy endures through her battle honors and the stories of her crews.