Salute to Shaw

Staff Photo/ Courtney Luke Ninety years young, David William Shaw, Jr. has served his country both during war and after.

Courtney Luke

DNC Staff Reporter

During his ninety years here on earth, David Shaw has seen and done many things.

He still maintains an active lifestyle managing Bingo at Malden's American Legion and playing a prominent role in local veteran activities.

Recently, he shared some military stories with the crowd gathered at the Cotton Belt Park for a Memorial Day ceremony.

Two weeks after his high school graduation in 1943, Uncle Sam called young David up for service in the Army Air Corps. His first stop was Jefferson Barracks just south of St. Louis, then on to Lincoln, Nebraska for basic training.

Shaw remembers that, due to his short stature, he was at the end of the line and falling behind the others until his Sergeant thought to send him to the front so he could set the pace.

Champaign, Illinois was his next stop. There he trained as a machinist.

Shaw was already familiar with the workings of airplanes having studied such at Parma High School where he filled his schedule with as much math as possible.

Before any more transferring, Shaw was able to come back home for a quick delay en route. He took advantage of that short time, however, and managed to get married. So in April of 1944, he and his girlfriend Shirley drove to Piggott, Arkansas and exchanged vows.

Kelly Field in San Antonio was his next destination then on to marine training at Point Clear, Alabama before departing on a liberty ship from Mobile, Alabama and on toward the Pacific Front.

Shaw and his shipmates joined a convoy at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which included Destroyers and then traveled through the Panama Canal.

The Mariana Islands was their first Pacific Ocean stop.

Shaw explained that the ship was a secret ship used to repair airplanes and anything an airplane needed- they would have. They also had oxygen making equipment and provided 200 tanks a day for pilots.

The ship traveled to Saipan and then left for Iwo Jima.

Twice Shaw remembers their ship being bombed by the Japanese. Though stocked with supplies, it was also ready for combat having sixteen large guns aboard. All of them were shooting as the Japanese planes attempted to bomb the ship.

Shaw specifically remembers watching on Japanese plane head straight toward them while he was on deck. With survival on his mind, he jumped over a group of fellow service men in order to get down in to a protected area.

He was next headed for Okinawa, Japan when they were turned around because of the successful bombing of Tokyo contributing to the end of WWII.

For the next three weeks, Shaw and his shipmates enjoyed leave in Honolulu, Hawaii.

He soon shipped back to Oakland, California where he caught a land convoy to Pasadena and a troop train back to Missouri.

Throughout all these miles, his E flat alto saxophone traveled with him.

Beginning with the Parma School band, he spent much time enjoying playing his saxophone. He was also part of the Parma City Band playing every Friday night, and the Malden City Band playing every Saturday night on the corner of Madison and Main.

While on ship, he also played with a band.

The last time he saw the instrument was in Oakland, California and until recently, he never played again.

A few years ago, he got his hands on his granddaughter's saxophone and came out with some tunes that surprised both himself and his audience. Those familiar notes rang out as he performed "Beer Barrel Polka", a few waltz, and some overtures.

Shaw was born the oldest of six children to David William Shaw, Sr. and his wife Leola. Their father was the fire chief. Shaw volunteered with the department because of that.

He was also a substitute telephone operator and worked in the town's theater.

Shaw played forward on the highschool basketball team but claims his brother was a much better player than he.

At one point, he even painted the letters on the town's water tower.

Following the war, Shaw and his family, which now included two daughters, stayed around Parma for a few years.

He worked as a hauler for the Frisco and Cotton Belt Railroads, delivered papers for five drug stores, and was a mechanic at the shop his dad and uncle owned- Shaw Brothers Garage.

In 1947, he bought a lot and built the foundation and an entire house for his family. He remembers that the cost was only $4,300.

In July of 1950, he sold the house to his uncle and moved to Flint, Michigan to work for General Motors.

Two more children came along in the next few years- both sons.

Together, they enjoyed many family camping trips going nearly every month and visiting every state park in Michigan with their Apache Camper. Shaw remembers they even ferried across to the Upper Peninsula.

He played an active part of the local CB Club and attended and organized jamborees for 1,000 campers.

The club joined together during the Detroit Riots and protected Flint by notifying police when large groups of Detroit cars were on their way to Flint.

Shaw also remembers being able to use his CB to help save a downed pilot in Arizona. He had crashed in the mountains outside of Phoenix, and though in Michigan, Shaw received his CB message requesting assistance. He was able to reach the Tucson, Arizona CB Club and they followed through in helping the stranded pilot.

The family was also active in the United Methodist Church taking on various leadership roles.

Retiring in 1981, Shaw and his wife moved back to Missouri. He lost her in '84.

He later married his current wife Patricia. In 1992, they moved to Okeechobee, Florida and bought a place that had twenty different types of fruit trees.

In 2002, they returned to Malden.

For the past fourteen years, Shaw has managed Friday night Bingo at the American Legion and is this year commander of the post.

He wears on his veterans ball cap, a picture of his nineteen year old self serving in Saipan. He's patriotic through and through with his red, white, and blue shirt and a heart to match.

In December, he celebrated his ninetieth birthday with his Bingo friends telling them, "I've got ten more years".