William Hamilton Shaw

William Hamilton Shaw was a United States Navy officer who served in World War II and the Korean War.

Early life

On 5 June 1922, Shaw was born in Pyongyang, Korea.
His parents, William Earl Shaw and Adeline Hamilton Shaw were Christian missionaries with the Methodist Church.

Career

During World War II, he served in the European theater as a PT Boat executive officer, especially he was involved in Normandy landings.
After release from active duty in August 1946, Shaw returned to Korea with the U.S. Navy to assist in establishing the Korea Naval Academy at Jinhae-gu, Changwon.
In 1949, Shaw returned to the US and entered the doctoral program in East Asian and Korean studies at Harvard University.
Following the outbreak of the Korean War, Shaw rejoined the Navy and returned to Korea and made the following comment: “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 became fluent in the Korean language and geography, and was immediately assigned to the staff of General Douglas MacArthur as a Naval intelligence officer.
Although his naval mission was completed with the successful recapture of Inchon, Shaw volunteered to lead a reconnaissance team behind enemy lines in the push to retake Seoul. On September 22, 1950, Shaw was killed in action by an enemy sniper while leading a reconnaissance team of 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division as they approached Nokpon-ri over the Han River.

Silver Star citation

General Orders: Commanding General, 1st Marine Division FMF: 18196

Awards and decorations

In Nokbeon-dong, Eunpyeong District, Seoul, a park memorializes his service.
In Mokwon University, a church memorializes his sacrifice.
On 29 April 2019, During his visit to the United States, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol remarked on his contribution in a lecture at Harvard University.
On 21 April 2023, William Hamilton Shaw and William Earl Shaw were selected as one of 10 Korean War heroes by South Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and ROK/US Combined Forces Command.