War Cruise of the U.S.S. Shields DD-596

Following the destroyer U.S.S. Shields across the Pacific during World War II.

This commemorative piece shows the route of the U.S.S. Shields as she traveled across the Pacific Theater during World War II. Named after an early influential sailor in America’s naval history, the ship was commissioned in February 1945 and placed in reserve just over a year later, before returning to service in the Korean War. During her brief period of active duty, the Fletcher-class destroyer performed mostly escort roles and training exercises around the South Pacific. She was involved in combat only once, shelling Japanese defense on Borneo in support of an Australian attack.

The ship’s year-long journey can be traced across the central map, with the major excursions dated and labeled. Photographs of the U.S.S. Shields, over 375 feet long with a crew of about 330 men, can be seen on either side.

The map was published in Los Angeles in 1946 by Thompson Photo Service and intended as a souvenir for sailors disembarking the ship for the last time. The company memorialized the actions of several other ships using the same format. Likely due to limited distribution, these productions are scarce and not readily available on the market or in institutional collections. This example is unlisted in WorldCat as of May 2024.