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Contact Info
Home Town St Paul, MN
Last Address Bellows Falls, VT
Date of Passing Dec 04, 1988
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
James Clair Shaw, a retired rear admiral and naval historian, died Sunday at his home in Bellows Falls, Vt. He was 74 years old and before a recent illness had been New England director of the Humane Society of the United States.
Admiral Shaw, who fought in 16 Pacific campaigns in World War II, graduated from the United StatesNavalAcademy in 1936. He wrote a naval history in association with Samuel Eliot Morison, the Harvard historian, and was technical adviser for the film ''The Caine Mutiny.'' He had been affiliated with the Humane Society since leaving the Navy 25 years ago.
Other Comments:
Silver Star
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Division: U.S.S. Atlanta (CL-51)
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant James Clair Shaw, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Gunnery Officer aboard the U.S.S. ATLANTA (CL-51), during the engagement with Japanese naval forces in the Solomon Islands area on 13 November 1942. Lieutenant Shaw suffered a broken hand after the action commenced. Despite this condition, he took an active part in removing those badly wounded from his ship, which was severely damaged, into the rescue boats alongside. He requested to be permitted to remain aboard but was ordered to leave with the wounded. His courageous conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Guadalcanal Campaign (1942-43)/Battle of the Eastern Solomons
From Month/Year
August / 1942
To Month/Year
August / 1942
Description The naval Battle of the Eastern Solomons (also known as the Battle of the Stewart Islands and, in Japanese sources, as the Second Battle of the Solomon Sea took place on 24–25 August 1942, and was the third carrier battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II and the second major engagement fought between the United States Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy during the Guadalcanal Campaign. As at the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway, the ships of the two adversaries were never within sight of each other. Instead, all attacks were carried out by carrier-based or land-based aircraft.
After several damaging air attacks, the naval surface combatants from both America and Japan withdrew from the battle area without either side securing a clear victory. However, the U.S. and its allies gained tactical and strategic advantage. Japan's losses were greater and included dozens of aircraft and their experienced aircrews. Also, Japanese reinforcements intended for Guadalcanal were delayed and eventually delivered by warships rather than transport ships, giving the Allies more time to prepare for the Japanese counteroffensive and preventing the Japanese from landing heavy artillery, ammunition, and other supplies.
