Shelton B. Sutton, Jr.
Quick Facts
Biography
Shelton B. Sutton, Jr. (1919–1942), was a United States Navy officer killed in action during World War II for whom two U.S. Navy ships were named.
Naval career
Shelton B. Sutton, Jr., born in Brewton, Georgia, on 21 August 1919. He was appointed ensign in United States Naval Reserve, on 21 April 1941. On 12 February 1942, he was ordered to the 3rd Naval District to await transportation to light cruiser USS Juneau (CL-52). He reported for duty in the cruiser on 2 March 1942.
Ensign Sutton was killed in action on 13 November 1942 when Juneau was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.
Namesakes
The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Sutton (DE-286) was named for Ensign Sutton. Her construction was cancelled in 1944. The destroyer escort USS Sutton (DE-771) was then named in his honor, and was in commission from 1944 to 1947.