MORTON DD 948

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Forrest Sherman Class Destroyer Keel Laid March 4 1957 - Launched May 23 1958 USS MORTON DD-948 Commissioned May 26 1959 - Decommissioned September 26 1969 Recommissioned August 15 1970 - Decommissioned November 22 1982 Struck from Naval Register February 7 1990 Sold March 17 1992 for scrap

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

Since a ship may have many covers, they may be split among many pages so it doesn't take forever for the pages to load. Each page link should be accompanied by a date range for covers on that page.

1. Covers Page 1    (1961-74)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the existing example.

 

Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Date From to Date To	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

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1st Commissioning May 26 1959 to September 26 1969

 

Locy Type 2t(n+u) (A,USS)

1961-06-05

Note:

 

Locy Type 2t(n+u) (A,USS)

1963-03-26

Hotel Jackson stationary

 

Locy Type 2t(n+u) (B,USS)

1968-11-14

Note:

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2nd Commissioning August 15 1970 to November 22 1982

 

Locy Type 2(n+) (USS)

1970-09-09

Note:

 

Locy Type 2t(n+u) (USS)

1974-10-22

Note:

 

Locy Type 9fu

1970-09-09

Device possibly carried over from 1st commissioning

 

Other Information

NAMESAKE - Dudley Walker ("Mush") Morton was born in Owensboro, Ky., 17 July 1907, and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1930. Prior to the beginning of World War II, he served in the Saratoga, Chicago, Canopus, Fairfax, R-5, and S-37. Advanced to the rank of Commander 15 October 1942, he assumed command of USS Wahoo SS-238 13 December. Between 26 January 1943 and 9 November, Wahoo was responsible for sinking 19 cargo and transport ships for a combined total of 55,000 tons. Commander Morton was reported missing in action, when his submarine was presumed to be lost in the Sea of Japan, Asiatic area. Declared dead 7 January 1946, Commander Morton had been awarded the Navy Cross, three gold stars in lieu of a second, third, and fourth, Navy Cross, and the Army Distinguished Service Cross in acknowledgement of his outstanding professional skills and excellent judgment. {DANFS}

 

According to Rick Palmer, the ship's crest shown in the Ship Name and Designation History section was designed by Morton's first skipper, then CDR DeLargy, while the ship was being built. Several variations playing off the Morton Salt theme appear to have been used throughout the ship's history (see example below). See the USS Morton DD-948 web site for further examples.

 

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If you have images or information to add to this page, then either contact the Curator or edit this page yourself and add it. See Editing Ship Pages for detailed information on editing this page.

 

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