50s USS Grady DE 445 Navy Destroyer Escort t-shirt Small

Chest 16.5 in.

Length 20 in.

Content: Feels like 100% Cotton

Tag Brand: Southern

This amazing vintage tee dates all the way back to the 1950s, and it pays tribute to the USS Grady. The shirt was made during a period of time where t-shirts were largely associated with the military, as soldiers and sailors appreciated the mobility and comfort they offered. Advertisers of the time ran with this association and t-shirts became a symbol of rugged masculinity. Since the shirts were already being worn primarily by the military, graphic tees were often focused around the armed forces.

The Grady was a Butler-class destroyer escort that was used by the US Navy in the 40s and 50s. It was built to escort convoys and merchant marine ships during the Pacific War. It then became a training ship based at Bellingham, Washington, before it was moved to California, where it continued to be used for naval training. The ship was eventually decommissioned and scrapped in 1969.

The vessel took its name from Corporal George Francis Grady, a US marine that was killed in action during the Battle of Tulagi and Gavutu-Tanambogo. Grady went out in a blaze of glory, charging a group of eight Japanese soldiers before his death. When his submachine gun jammed, Grady used it as a club to bludgeon his attackers, before taking out his knife. Through his sheer ferocity, Grady was able to kill five of his eight attackers, before meeting his end.  

Fits like a modern unisex adult small. There are spots on both sleeves, see pics.






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