During World War II, he served in the European theater as a PT Boat executive officer, especially he was involved in Normandy landings.
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.
General Orders: Commanding General, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) FMF: 18196 (December 9, 1950)[2] The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lieutenant William Hamilton Shaw (NSN: 257303), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Special Interpreter and Liaison Officer attached to the Fifth Regiment, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 22 September 1950.
Lieutenant Shaw courageously volunteered to accompany a front line battalion in order to conduct on the spot interrogation of prisoners and civilians and to point out critical terrain features for the assault companies.
[4] 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.