James Shanahan
Encyclopedia
Brigadier General James G. Shanahan (1920 Pompey, New York
- 8 January 1997 Alexandria, Virginia
) served in the United States Army
from 1942 through 1973.
James Shanahan joined ROTC at Niagara University
and was commissioned in 1942 following his graduation. Shanahan was initially given a command in the 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He served as a platoon leader and company commander for this unit in the Pacific theater
during the Second World War
.
Following the end of the war he returned to the United States to serve as an aide in the Truman
White House
. When the Korean War
broke out he returned to combat as the battalion commander for the 1-38th, 2nd Infantry Division. He also led the 3rd Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War
.
He become one of only 138 soldiers to earn the Combat Infantryman Badge
with two combat stars (three awards - WWII, Korea, Vietnam). Additional decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal
, three Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars for Valor, four Bronze Stars for Merit, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart
, Air Medal
with eight clusters, the Vietnamese National Order of Valor and two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses.
He was a graduate of the Command and General Staff College
, the Armed Forces Staff College, and the National War College
.
Following his retirement from the Army in 1973 at the rank of Brigadier General, James Shanahan settled in the Alexandria, Virginia
area and became a real estate broker. He died of an apparent heart attack on the 8th of January 1997 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
.
Pompey, New York
Pompey is a town in the southeast part of Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 6,159 at the 2000 census. The town was named after the Roman general and political leader Pompey by a late 18th-century clerk interested in the Classics in the new federal republic.- History :The...
- 8 January 1997 Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
) served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1942 through 1973.
James Shanahan joined ROTC at Niagara University
Niagara University
Niagara University is a Catholic university in the Vincentian tradition, located in the Town of Lewiston in Niagara County, New York. Originally founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1856 as Our Lady of Angels Seminary, it became Niagara University in 1883. The University is still run by...
and was commissioned in 1942 following his graduation. Shanahan was initially given a command in the 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He served as a platoon leader and company commander for this unit in the Pacific theater
Pacific Ocean theater of World War II
The Pacific Ocean theatre was one of four major naval theatres of war of World War II, which pitted the forces of Japan against those of the United States, the British Commonwealth, the Netherlands and France....
during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Following the end of the war he returned to the United States to serve as an aide in the Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
. When the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
broke out he returned to combat as the battalion commander for the 1-38th, 2nd Infantry Division. He also led the 3rd Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
He become one of only 138 soldiers to earn the Combat Infantryman Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
with two combat stars (three awards - WWII, Korea, Vietnam). Additional decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
, three Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars for Valor, four Bronze Stars for Merit, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
, Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
with eight clusters, the Vietnamese National Order of Valor and two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses.
He was a graduate of the Command and General Staff College
Command and General Staff College
The United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military officers. The college was established in 1881 by William Tecumseh Sherman as a...
, the Armed Forces Staff College, and the National War College
National War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
.
Following his retirement from the Army in 1973 at the rank of Brigadier General, James Shanahan settled in the Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
area and became a real estate broker. He died of an apparent heart attack on the 8th of January 1997 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.