From a PT Boat to the Streets of Seoul, William H. Shaw’s Life of Character and Conscience
Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
For Bill Shaw, a 28-year-old husband, father of two, and first-year doctoral student at Harvard, the answer was clear. He told his wife, two young sons, parents, and professors he’d be back soon. His studies could wait, he explained.
Three months later, on September 22, 1950, US Navy Lt. William Hamilton Shaw, on patrol with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, outside of Seoul, Korea, was killed in a Communist ambush. He was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry.
In the minutes before his death he had been warning South Korean civilians of an impending artillery strike in the area. A North Korean sniper, watching the American shout directions to men and women in the street, wasted no time in zeroing in on the lieutenant. Hours later Shaw was dead.
William Hamilton Shaw as a newly-commissioned Naval officer, 1944. (Photo credit: https://tinyurl.com/y7rj3w47)
WWII and the Navy
The son of Methodist missionaries, Shaw was born and raised in Pyongyang, Korea. He graduated from Pyongyang Foreign High School and spoke fluent Korean. After graduating from Ohio Wesleyan University in the States, he joined the US Navy and served in World War II on a PT (Patrol Torpedo) boat in the European Theater.
For six months, from June – November 1944, Ensign Shaw, the XO, or executive officer, of PT-518, participated in the Allied invasion of Normandy, codenamed Operation Overlord. Two weeks after the initial landing on D-Day, June 6, 1944, Shaw and his men ferried General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe, across the English Channel. It would be the first of Shaw's many meetings with high-ranking officers during his short military career.
Ensign Shaw (far right) aboard PT-518, with General Dwight D. Eisenhower (directly behind Shaw), Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and Admiral Alan Kirk (to Eisenhower’s right), the senior US Navy Commander during the Normandy Invasion, on June 24, 1944, in the English Channel. (Photo credit: navsource.org)
At the end of World War II, Shaw returned to Korea to teach at the ROK Naval Academy in Jinhae, South Korea. During his nearly three years there, he became one of the school's most respected instructors and was a dedicated mentor to the Academy’s young naval officers. Over 50 years later, his students would erect a statue honoring him as their “teacher and friend.”
In 1949, Shaw - now with a wife and two children – returned to the US and enrolled at Harvard. An intelligent and ambitious young man, Shaw’s future looked bright. After finishing his degree, he had plans to go back to his adopted homeland as a missionary, raise his family there, and make a contribution to the newly-founded Republic of Korea.
I Must “Help The Koreans . . . In Time Of War”
Within months of starting his classes, however, everything changed: The Korean War broke out. “I cannot in good conscience return to Korea as a Christian missionary in peacetime if I am not first willing to be there to help the Koreans defend their freedom in time of war,” he wrote one of his friends. I can only imagine what his wife must have thought about his decision to put his family, PhD program, and future on hold to fight in Korea.
Upon returning to Korea, Shaw, as a native Korean speaker, worked on General Douglas MacArthur’s staff prior to and during the Inchon Landing and provided valuable intelligence for the operation. Once ashore, he volunteered with the US Marines as they fought through the streets, barricades, and hills of Seoul. His ability to communicate with the locals and interrogate North Korean soldiers was invaluable to the Marines on the ground.
Only days before Seoul’s liberation on September 22, 1950, Juanita Robinson Shaw became a widow and her children fatherless.
Marines fight street to street in Seoul, September 1950. (PC: USMC)
Shaw’s life of incredible service, loyalty, and courage raises many questions. Why did he feel the need to return to Korea after he and his family had already given so much to the country? Why did he leave his loved ones and postpone his degree to return to a country torn apart by war? And what motivated him to volunteer with the Marines on combat patrols in enemy territory?
We may never fully understand what he was thinking when he made the critical decisions that led to his tragic death, but the quote on his memorial at Eunpyeong Peace Park in Seoul may give us the best clue:
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friend.” John 15:13
Lt. William Hamilton Shaw, USN, was a true patriot and hero.
The Memorial to Shaw at Eunpyeong Peace Park in Seoul. (Photo credit: Ned Forney)
Postscript
In 1956, six years after her husband's death, Juanita Shaw returned to South Korea with her two sons. She stayed in Korea for twelve years as a missionary, learned the Korean language, and became a teacher at Seoul Foreign School and Ewha Womans University. Twenty-one years later, William R. Shaw, her eldest son, earned the same Harvard doctoral degree that his father never finished.
Top photo: Shaw after returning from WWII with his wife, Juanita, and young son, William Robinson Shaw. (Photo credit: limaohio.com)
Thank you for this lovely post about my grandfather. Its so well done and a magnificent tribute for my own son – Jackson William Shaw- to learn about his heritage. -Julie Hamilton Shaw, Major, United States Air Force (ret)
Thanks for your heartfelt comments, Julie. It was a privilege to write about your grandfather, a truly great American who loved his adopted homeland of Korea.
Making the connection with your family has been one of the highlights of our time researching the Korean War (my wife and I are friends with Carole).
We must work together to ensure your grandfather’s sacrifices – and all those who served with him – are never forgotten.
We appreciate your commenting and apologize for the late reply.
What a beautiful story on a Korea-born American soldier who paid the ultimate price in the Korean War. As a ROK Army veteran and a naturalized US citizen, I never stop being grateful to the late William H. Shaw and others. The were the best of the best Americans. Your article is searingly poignant and biographically detailed. Many thanks for letting us learn more about the extraordinary father of Dr. William R. Shaw. In the 1990s, I got acquainted with Dr. Shaw in connection with our shared interest in Korean law. I often wonder what he and I might have done as scholarly collaborators. I still fondly remember his words of encouragement. When I called him at home, his daughter answered my phone. When I asked for Dr. Shaw, she said, “My father passed away.” It was soon after his untimely death. I was so devastated. He and I were then discussing a research project, albeit preliminarily. By any chance, are you aware of any published obits of Dr. Shaw? I’m anxious to read. Stay safe. And be well. Kyu Ho YOUM, Jonathan Marshall First Amendment Chair, University of Oregon:
Thank you for your thoughtful comments, Professor Youm, and thank you for sharing your story about meeting and getting to know Dr. William R. Shaw. We do have the link to an obituary for him and will get that to you.
You’ll be happy to know that we’re in touch with Dr. Shaw’s widow. She’s been a wonderful help as we’ve done research into Lt. Shaw’s life, and we’re happy and proud to call her our friend.
Susan (Shaw) Hawn, the late Dr. Shaw’s daughter, has read my blog comment and emailed me today with her beautiful blog posts about her father. I’ve replied to her thoughtful reply. And I noted it in a FB posting today.
Awesome – glad to hear that the two of were able to connect.
I am the daughter who answered your call that day. I vaguely remember it now, although I was in my early 20’s at the time.
Please feel free to contact me at any time. susan.hawn@gmail.com.
Kind regards, Susan Shaw Hawn
Thanks for responding, Susan. We hope to keep in touch with your family.
I stumbled on this site after Googling for information on the people shown in the Navy PT-518 photograph of my uncle, William H. Shaw. Many thanks, Mr. Forney for this website tribute to my uncle. My name is William Paul Garcia and my mother, Mary Jane Shaw, was William H. Shaw’s eldest sister. I’m in possession of the original PT-518 photo (different frame than the one shown above) signed by General Dwight D. Eisenhower to my uncle (copy in the link below). Being recently retired, I’ve started to copy and restore many of the old photographs my sister (Vera Brown) and I have of the Shaw family. Below is a link to a few of the photos I’ve worked on. Many more still require some Photoshop work for restoration and my plan is to get hard copies into an album for the grandkids or any other family members interested in having a copy. Thanks again as I’m still learning about my family and this site has been very helpful in that pursuit.
William Paul Garcia
https://bonazure.smugmug.com/Other/Shaw-Family/
Thank you for sharing these terrific pictures of Col. Shaw and his family, Mr. Garcia.
I really enjoy writing about your uncle, and you’ll be glad to know that we’ve shared his story with several families that we’ve met at Yanghwajin Cemetery here in Seoul, where he is buried.
I highly recommend a visit to Korea if you’ve not already been.
Again, thank you.
Thank you for this stunning photographic collection of our great grandparents and Aunt Roberta. My grandmother, Juanita, took me to visit her when i was a child. What a magnificent memorial, with gratitude to Mr. Forney for creating such a welcome Shaw family forum. – Julie Hamilton Shaw
We also really enjoyed the pictures, Julie. So glad Mr. Garcia shared them.
Thank you very much for providing valuable information that all Koreans ought to know. He and his father loved Korea and her people more than we Koreans do. We owe much Shaw’s family. We should never forget that the freedom and prosperity we enjoy now is based on the sacrifice and hard work of William Shaw and his family. It is now our responsibility to pay the debt of love back to the people in need worldwide so that Shaw’s love may not be wasted.
Thank you so much for reading the blog and sharing these heartfelt comments, Mr. Yoon.
We respect how much the Korean people always show gratitude to men like William Hamilton Shaw. It means so much to their families and to all of us.
We appreciate your continuing to set the example of “paying it forward.”
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Excellent story!!!
Thanks, Bob. We really appreciate your reading the story and taking the time to comment. It’s always good to hear from you!
Thanks a lot Mr. Forney. I’m especially interested in Battle of Chosin Reservoir, and I found out Lt. Shaw’s story in John Y. Lee’s interview. So, I wanted to get more information about his life. I searched his name on the Internet, your website is the only place I could get informative things.
His devotion to Korea is really incredible. Honestly, I don’t think I can describe it in any words. I really respect him not only soldier but also human being. I think I learned something from his life and he definitely deserves to be known more.
I really appreciate your great article 🙂
Thank your for your thoughtful comments and kind words, Sujin. William Hamilton Shaw was amazing man who called Korea his home. It was an honor to write about him, and I’m so glad that more people are learning about his remarkable story. He continues to inspire.
I’m curious about John Y. Lee’s interview. Can you send me a link or tell me where you heard it? You are welcome to email me at ned@nedforney.com.
Again, I appreciate your interest.
Some difficulty to find his name in the memorial inscriprion hall in Yongsan Seoul. Because the American names are categorized by natal states… but he is born in Korea…
Lt. Shaw’s name is listed under “Other” at the War Memorial. This category falls after the last state listed, Wyoming. Hope you can find it next time you are there. As you rightly mentioned, he was born in Korea- in Pyongyang, actually!
Thank you for reading the blog and commenting. We are so happy that more people are learning of Lt. Shaw’s remarkable life and sacrifice.
Deeply appreciate his love for Korea. His death site was not far from Yonsei University where I am teaching.
The USROK Mutual Defense Treaty was sealed by the blood at the end of the War.
Thank you so much for reading the blog and commenting. We are also very moved by Lt. Shaw’s love for Korea. What an inspiration for all of us.
“We go together!”
Fascinating article
Thank you for your positive feedback, Alex. I’m glad you enjoyed the article and appreciate your commenting.
My Dad (RD3 James M. Sanders) was the radar man on the PT518. He always spoke very highly of Ensign Shaw.
Great hearing from someone whose family has a personal connection to Ensign Shaw! Thanks so much for sending us this comment, Mr. Sanders, and I look forward to talking to you more and hearing about your dad’s story as well. He was part of the Greatest Generation, and I salute him.
Nice piece
Thanks, Robert. Glad you enjoyed it!