Shelby served as an attack transport of the Windsor class, APA-105. Bethlehem launched her at Sparrows Point on 25 October 1944. The Navy commissioned her on 20 January 1945.
Okinawa was her assault. She arrived with troops still to go ashore and took her station in the transport area in May, while that campaign was in its second month. Boats and the troops those boats would land were the work in front of her.
On 3 and 4 May 1945 her troops went ashore at Okinawa. Two days of boat trips cleared the men she had embarked. She stayed through those days until the landing was done.
She was decommissioned on 14 May 1946. One battle star was awarded for the Okinawa service.