Edward Ellis Shelby (1 September 1910 – 19 June 1973) was a

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

. A decorated veteran of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he earned the

Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Naval Service's second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is equivalent to the Army ...

three times as commander of the submarine in the Pacific theatre.

Early life and education

Shelby was born in

Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tenne ...

and raised in

San Antonio, Texas San Antonio ( ; Spanish for "Anthony of Padua, Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the List of Texas metropolitan areas, third-largest metropolitan area in Texa ...

. After studying at the

Marion Military Institute Marion Military Institute, the Military College of Alabama, (MMI, sometimes Marion Institute, Marion Military, or simply Marion) is a Public college, public military junior college in Marion, Alabama. Founded in 1842, it is the official state mi ...

, he entered the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (USNA, Navy, or Annapolis) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as United States Secre ...

in 1929 and graduated with a B.S. degree on 1 June 1933. Shelby later attended the

Armed Forces Staff College The Joint Forces Staff College (JFSC), located in Norfolk, Virginia, was established as the Armed Forces Staff College in 1946 and incorporated into the National Defense University in August 1981. It educates and acculturates joint and multinat ...

, graduating on 22 January 1949.

Career

After graduation from the Naval Academy, Shelby served aboard the light cruiser . In January 1937, he entered submarine training at

New London, Connecticut New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States, located at the outlet of the Thames River (Connecticut), Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, which empties into Long Island Sound. The cit ...

. Shelby was then assigned to the submarine USS ''S-42''. In January 1942, Shelby assumed command of the submarine USS ''R-12''. In October 1942, he was promoted to lieutenant commander. In June 1943, the ''R-12'' sank in a training accident near

Key West, Florida Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida, at the southern end of the U.S. state of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Sigsbee Park, Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Islan ...

with the loss of forty-two lives. Shelby and four others were washed overboard from the bridge and rescued from the sea about six hours later. In December 1943, Shelby was given command of the submarine . Promoted to commander in January 1944, he remained her commanding officer until March 1945, conducting five combat patrols against Japanese shipping in the Pacific. Shelby was awarded the

Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against a ...

for the first patrol and the

for each of the next three patrols. Returning to the United States, Shelby supervised the fitting out of the new submarine USS ''Corporal'' in

Groton, Connecticut Groton ( ) is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States, located on the Thames River (Connecticut), Thames River. It is the home of General Dynamics Electric Boat, which is the major contractor for submarine work for the United St ...

. He then served as her first commanding officer from November 1945 to January 1946. In January 1952, Shelby was promoted to captain. From June 1954 to August 1955, he served as commanding officer of Submarine Squadron Six and the Submarine Refit and Training Group at

Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. It had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in Virginia, third-most populous city ...

. Shelby was then given command of the fleet oiler USS ''Elokomin'' until 1956. Shelby retired from active duty in March 1962.

Personal

After his death on 19 June 1973, Shelby was buried at

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the United States National Cemetery System, one of two maintained by the United States Army. More than 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington County, Virginia. ...

on 7 August 1973. His wife Carolyn Watkins Shelby (5 November 1913 – 25 March 1992) was later interred beside him.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shelby, Edward Ellis 1910 births 1973 deaths Military personnel from Memphis, Tennessee Marion Military Institute alumni United States Naval Academy alumni Military personnel from San Antonio United States Navy personnel of World War II United States submarine commanders Recipients of the Silver Star Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) Joint Forces Staff College alumni United States Navy captains Place of death missing Burials at Arlington National Cemetery