[1] He joined the 83rd Bombardment Squadron in November and flew 25 combat missions in a B-25 Mitchell medium bomber from southern Italy.

After the end of the war, he resumed his studies and received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida, being admitted to the bar in 1948.

Shepard also served as a deputy director at the United States Air Force National Headquarters from March 1971 to August 1973.

[1][2] He then served as chief of staff to the Joint United States Military Assistance Group in Korea.

Shepard died at the age of 86 on July 22, 2009, in his home in West Palm Beach, Florida, and he was later interred in Arlington National Cemetery on October 14, 2009.