Chinese Civil War Samuel Robert Shaw (June 6, 1911 – April 4, 1989) was a decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of brigadier general.

He attended the high school in Dayton, Ohio, and entered the Marine Corps service in September 1928 and following boot camp, he served two years as enlisted man until he was appointed to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, in July 1930.

Shaw was then attached to the Marine detachment aboard the cruiser USS Tuscaloosa and participated in Fleet Problem XVII, taking place off the west coast of the United States, Central America, and the Panama Canal Zone.

He was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in July 1937 and temporarily detached from the regiment to complete the Army Ordnance Field Service School at Raritan Arsenal, Metuchen, New Jersey.

He departed for the Pacific area the following month and joined Commanding officer, 6th Marine Division under Major General Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr. at Guadalcanal.

[1][8][9] Shaw assumed command of 6th Pioneer Battalion and after few months of training, he sailed for Okinawa in March 1945 and after few weeks in staging area at Ulithi, a little atoll in the Caroline Islands, he led his unit ashore on April 1, 1945.

The 6th Pioneer battalion was responsible for the securing of the logistical support on time, because arrival of supplies and equipment on landing beaches piled high and could lead to congestion and confusion.

Shaw landed with the battalion in Qingdao in Shandong and witnessed the surrender of the Japanese 5th Independent Mixed Brigade under Major General Eiji Nagano.

He was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal for his service with 6th Marine Division and also received Order of the Cloud and Banner with Special Cravat (4th Class) by the Government of Republic of China.

He was promoted to the rank of colonel in August 1949 and assumed duty as Shore Party Officer in the Engineer Section, Division of Plans and Policies, at Headquarters Marine Corps due to his experiences in World War II.

Shaw later served as Chief of the Joint Action Panel in the Marine Corps, Division of Plans and Policies under Brigadier General Edwin A. Pollock and left Washington in February 1952.

Other members of the group were Thomas J. Coolley, John P. Condon, August Larson Joseph N. Renner, Carson A. Roberts, George R. E. Shell, Eustace R. Smoak, William J.

Shaw participated in the guarding of Korean Demilitarized Zone until July 1955 and then returned to Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington for duty as director, Policy Analysis Branch.

[1] Shaw remained in retirement only until September 1962 when he was recalled to active duty as director of programs on the staff of the Preparedness Sub-Committee, Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington, D. C. He also served as advisor to President John F. Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October of that year.

[2] Brigadier General Samuel R. Shaw died of heart attack on April 4, 1989, in DeWitt Army Hospital at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.