>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” (1969) Vol. 4, pp.255-256. MARVIN SHIELDS Marvin G. Shields, born 30 December 1939 in Port Townsend, Wash., enlisted in the Navy 8 January 1962. After construction training, lie served with Mobile Construction Battalion 11, and was with Seabee Team 1104 at Dong Xoai, South Vietnam, 10 June 1965 when a Vietcong regiment attacked. After being wounded, Shields continued to carry up ammunition to the firing line, and after receiving a second wound, insisted on helping a more severely wounded soldier to safety. Refusing to consider himself and now greatly weakened, he again exposed himself to enemy fire, volunteering to help knock out a machine-gun which had the entire camp pinned down. Shields died from wounds he received after he and others "succeeded in destroying the enemy machine gun emplacement, thus undoubtedly saving the lives of many of their fellow servicemen in the compound." He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor 13 September 1966. DE-1066 Displacement: 4,000 t. (fully loaded) Length: 438’ Beam: 47’ Draft: 15’ Speed: 20+ k. Complement: 230 Armament: 1 5”; 2 Mk.25 ASW torpedo tubes; 2 Mk.32 ASW torpedo tubes; ASROC Class: KNOX MARVIN SHIELDS (DE-1066) was laid down 12 April 1968 by Todd Shipyard Corp., Seattle, Wash., launching is scheduled for late 1969; she is to be cosponsored by Mrs. Victoria Cassalery and Mrs. Richard A. Bennett; and is scheduled to commission in 1970. MARVIN SHIELDS was launched on 23 October 1969 and commissioned on 10 April 1971. The following year, she received the Harpoon missile system as part of a refit program. Reclassified a frigate, she became FF-1066 on 30 June 1975. Decommissioned 2 July 1992 and stricken from the Navy Register on 11 January 1995, she was transferred to Mexico on 29 January 1997, arriving there 16 August. Renamed MARIANO ABASOLO (E-51), she entered active service on 23 November 1998 after extensive refits. K. Jack Bauer and Stephen S. Roberts, “Register of Ships of the U. S. Navy, 1775-1990,” pp.243-244. “Jane’s Fighting Ships, 1997-98,” p.439; “1999-2000,” p.455. Internet Web Site: Naval Vessel Register www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/FF1066.htm Transcribed by Michael Hansen mhansen2@home.com