James A. Shelton
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| James A. Shelton | |
|---|---|
| 1916 – 4 June 1942 | |
| Place of birth | Denton, Montana |
| Place of death | near Midway Atoll |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Years of service | 1941–1942 |
| Rank | Ensign, USN |
| Unit | Scouting Squadron 6 (VS-6) |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Midway |
| Awards | Navy Cross (posthumous) |
James A. Shelton was born in Denton, Montana, in 1916 and enlisted in the United States Navy on 15 January 1941. Appointed an Aviation Cadet on 20 March 1941, he trained at Pensacola, Miami, and San Diego. Ensign Shelton was assigned to Scouting Squadron 6 (VS-6) on 17 April 1942 and was reported missing on 4 June 1942 during the Battle of Midway. For his heroism and devotion to duty, Ensign Shelton was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.
Two ships have been named USS Shelton in his honor.
[edit] References
This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. James Shelton, as listed on the Internet Broadway Database, was a Composer, Lyricist, Performer and Director. He wrote shows for Broadway from the mid 30's to the mid 50's. The shows include Who's Who, The Straw Hat Revue, Dance Me a Song and Almost Crazy. He presumably is the author of the much-performed ballad Lilac Wine, which was made famous by both Nina Simone and Jeff Buckley.
