Specifications:

Click on thumbnail for full size image	Size	Image Description		Source
Shea (DM 30)
	12k	Namesake: John Joseph Shea, born in Cambridge, Mass., on 13 January 1898, enlisted in the Naval Reserve Force on 11 June 1918. At the time of his release from active duty in 1919, he was appointed the rank of Ensign. He was honorably discharged in 1921 and reappointed in 1923. With the abolition of the Naval Reserve Force in 1925, he was transferred to the Fleet Reserve. In 1941, he was transferred to the Regular Navy in the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Lt. Comdr. Shea was serving in WASP (CV-7) on 15 September 1942, when she was torpedoed and sunk by the Japanese. He left the relative safety of his own station to direct the fight against the raging inferno on Wasp's flight deck. Amid frequent explosions and flying debris, he worked to save the carrier. He was leading out another hose to continue the struggle against the fires in a ready ammunition room when a shattering explosion occurred. In all probability, Lt. Comdr. Shea died in that explosion; but, lacking concrete proof of death, he was declared Missing in Action until a year and a day later when he was declared legally dead. He was awarded the Navy Cross and Purple Heart medals and was promoted to Commander, all posthumously		Tommy Trampp Photo added 5 March 2022
	300k	20 May 1944 Staten Island, New York The late Commander John Joseph Shea, whose only letter to his son “Jackie” won national acclaim for outlining simply the ideals which is why America is fighting this war, was honored by the Navy Department today when a destroyer bearing his name went down the ways at the Bethlehem Steel Company Staten Island Shipyard. Mrs. John J. Shea of Arlington, Massachusetts, widow of the late commander, sponsored the ship. John Richard “Jackie” Shea, now six-years old, also attended the launching. Here Jackie points out his autograph which he wrote on the ship’s bow to his mother Image courtesy of Acme Newspictures		Bill Gonyo
	138k	Leaving Bethlehem Steel, Staten Island on 29 September 1944, in camouflage 32/25D. The colors are dull black, ocean gray and light gray National Archives photos BS 72161, BS 72162 and BS 72167 from the Bureau of Ships collection		Ships of the U.S. Navy in WWII “Dazzle” Camouflage
	85k
	349k
USS Shea (DM 30)
	104k	National Archives photo BS 73162 from the Bureau of Ships collection		Joe Radigan
	300k	U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics photo 285403		Ed Zajkowski
	35k	Shannon (DM-25), Harry F. Bauer (DM-26), Thomas E. Fraser (DM-24) and Shea		USS Thomas E. Fraser (DM 24) Association
	69k	18 October 1944
	94k	18 October 1944 Note the mines lined up on the mine rails which extend from her forward superstructure to the stern Australian War Memorial photo 302740		Mike Green
	142k	View on New Year's Day morning 1945 at Bethlehem Steel, pier 54, San Francisco, CA. USS Ringgold (DD 500) and USS Sigsbee (DD 502) are moored to port National Archives photo 19-N-80476		Rick E. Davis and John Chiquoine
	137k	View on New Year's Day morning 1945 at Bethlehem Steel, San Francisco, CA. USS Ringgold (DD 500) and USS Sigsbee (DD 502) are moored outboard port National Archives photo 19-N-80477		John Chiquoine
	74k	Moored at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 22 August 1945. This photo shows crew members inspecting Kamikaze damage that occurred on 14 May 1945 while the ship was on picket duty off Okinawa Photo from the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, George D. McDowell Collection		Mike Green
	59k
	195k	Shea (DM-30) at Philadelphia Navy Yard in about 1946 Courtesy of the Mariners Museum, Newport News, Virginia. Ted Stone Collection Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 66810
	48k	c. 1953 Photo courtesy of P. Sweeney from the 1954/1955 edition of Jane's Fighting Ships		Robert Hurst
	83k	U.S. Navy photo from the February 1958 edition of All Hands magazine		Joe Radigan

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Commanding Officers
01	CDR Charles Cochran (Chili) Kirkpatrick, USN - USNA Class of 1931 Awarded three Navy Crosses (1942/1943), the Army Distinguished Service Cross (1943), the Navy Distinguished Service Medal (1964), the Silver Star (1945) and the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" (1945) - Retired as Rear Admiral	30 September 1944 - 13 July 1945
02	LCDR Willard Young Howell, USN - USNA Class of 1939 Awarded the Silver Star (1942) and two Bronze Stars with Combat V (1945/1953) - Retired as Captain	13 July 1945 - 19 July 1945
03	CDR Edward Francis Baldridge, USN - USNA Class of 1938 Awarded two Bronze Stars	19 July 1945 - June 1946
04	CDR Dillon Robert McMullen, USN - USNA Class of 1933	June 1946 - 1 January 1948
05	LCDR Frederick Saunders Robertson, Jr., USN - USNA Class of 1942	1 January 1948 - 3 February 1948
06	LCDR Eugene Hill Scott, USN	3 February 1948 - 1 January 1949
07	CDR John Joseph Becker, USN - USNA Class of 1935	1 January 1949 - 10 July 1949
08	CDR Joseph Francis Dalton, USN - USNA Class of 1937	February 1951 - February 1953
09	CDR David Spencer Bill, Jr., USN - USNA Class of 1939 Awarded the Bronze Star with Combat "V" and the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" - Retired as Captain	February 1953

Courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler, Ron Reeves, Bill Gonyo and Joe Radigan

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View the Shea (DM-30)
DANFS History entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Website

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THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON

The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in commending the

UNITED STATES SHIP SHEA

for service as follows

"For outstanding heroism in action while attached to an Amphibious Force during operations for the seizure of enemy Japanese-held Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, from March 24 to May 4, 1945. Operation in waters protected by enemy mines and numerous suicide craft, the U.S.S. SHEA rendered distinctive service in providing effective cover for our minesweeper groups against hostile attack by air, surface, submarine, and shore fire. A natural and frequent target for heavy Japanese aerial attack, she fought her guns valiantly to down nine planes and assist in the destruction of three others, accounting for six of the total of nine within a period of ten minutes during action in April. After downing an attacking plane on May 4, the SHEA turned her guns on a second plane which came in out of the sun, maintaining furious fire on the high-speed target until it struck her superstructure on the starboard side, penetrating the bridge without exploding and emerged on the port side to explode and perforate the side with shrapnel. Saved from complete destruction by prompt damage control measures, the SHEA had achieved a record of gallantry in combat, reflecting the highest credit upon her courageous and skilled officers and men and upon the United States Naval Service."

All personnel attached to and serving on board the U.S.S. SHEA from March 24 to May 4, 1945, are authorized to wear the NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION Ribbon.