John M. Shaw

Retired US Army Colonel John Marion Shaw, of Columbia, South Carolina, died July 19, 2016 at the age of 95. Colonel Shaw was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma to Thomas C. Shaw and Mary Belle Larson. He entered the U S Army in April 1943. He remained on active duty until retirement in October, 1973 at Fort Jackson, where he was Chief of Staff from March 1971 until September 1973. He served at all levels of command from platoon to brigade commander and held significant staff assignments in the J3 Directorate of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the G3 unit of III Corps at Fort Hood, Deputy Chief of Staff of III Corps at Ft Hood, and office of the US Army Attaché in Turkey. Colonel Shaw served at numerous posts in the continental US and in the European theater, in Turkey (two tours), and Korea. He attended the Armored School advanced course, US Army Command General Staff College, the Strategic Intelligence School, the US Army War College and the Turkish Army General Staff College. He was a graduate of Oklahoma A & M (now Oklahoma State University) and received a Master’s Degree from George Washington University. In May 1979 he was inducted into the Infantry School Officer Candidate School (OCS) Hall of Fame. His awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Legion of Merit (two Oak Leaf clusters) Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, and several service medals. Subsequent to retirement from the U S Army in 1973, Colonel Shaw was a Financial Planner with IDS/American Express and a member of their Master Millionaire Club until his retirement from there in April 1990. He was a former member of the Columbia Country Club (President, 1984-1985), member of Windermere Golf Club, member of Fort Jackson Officers Club, member of Fort Jackson Golf Club, life member of the Retired Officers Association, former president of Senior Golf Circuit, former executive secretary/tournament director of the Senior Golfers of South Carolina, and former member of the Optimist Club. Survivors include his beloved wife, Arlouine C. “Casey” Shaw, his son Retired US Army Colonel Michael D. Shaw and wife Brenda and their daughter Mary Frances Shaw; his son Retired US Air Force Major Richard C. Shaw and wife Susan and their son J.W. (wife Jennifer) Shaw and daughter Jenny (husband Travis) Shaw Knowles; and his daughter Deborah B. Grooms and husband William M. Grooms, Jr. and their son Alec Shaw Grooms and daughter Morgan B. Grooms. He also is survived by three great grandchildren – Gavin and Ty (Jenny and Travis Knowles) and Mercy Rae (JW and Jennifer Shaw). He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Louise Walters Shaw, and his brother Jerome D. Shaw. The family will hold a military honors service at the Fort Jackson National Cemetery at 11:00 am on Monday, September 19th, 2016. Friends are welcome to attend. Temples Halloran Funeral Home is assisting the family. In Lieu of flowers, Colonel Shaw and the family request that memorials be made to the Army Emergency Relief, the Salvation Army, or to NHC Healthcare on Parklane Road, Columbia, SC.