World War II Honoree

Norman Harry Shaw

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pateros, Washington

Honored By

LTC Charles T. Borg, USA-Ret.

Relationship

Friend

SERVED AS 60MM MORTAR SQUAD LEADER IN B TROOP, 12TH CAVALRY REGIMENT, 1ST CAVALRY DIVISION. ENTERED ARMY SEPTEMBER 1942, ATTENDED BASIC TRAINING FOLLOWED BY 12 WEEKS OF HORSESHOEING SCHOOL AT FORT RILEY, KANSAS. ASSIGNED TO 1ST CAVALRY DIVISION AND UNDERWENT ADVANCED UNIT TRAINING EXERCISES IN LOUISIANA WHILE THE DIVISION WAS STILL USING HORSES. IN JULY 1943, DEPARTED FOR AUSTRALIA TO UNDERGO AMPHIBIOUS AND JUNGLE WARFARE TRAINING BEFORE ENTERING COMBAT OPERATIONS AGAINST THE JAPANESE. FEBRUARY 1944 LANDED IN ADMIRALTY ISLANDS AND SAW FIRST ACTION AGAINST THE ENEMY. SERVED AT INVASION OF LEYTE AND LUZON, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND WAS AWARDED BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR VALOR FOR RESCUING MEN PINNED DOWN BY JAPANESE MACHINE GUN FIRE. WOUNDED IN FEBRUARY 1945 DURING HEAVY FIGHTING AROUND CITY OF MANILA, WHERE THEY LIBERATED SANTO TOMAS INTERNMENT CAMP. DISCHARGED SEPTEMBER 1945 AT FORT LEWIS, WASHINGTON, HOLDING THE RANK OF SERGEANT. EARNED COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR VALOR, PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD AND 4 BATTLE STARS FOR NEW GUINEA, BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO, SOUTH PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND LUZON CAMPAIGNS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION AND PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE STARS.