James Shaw was born and raised in Pennsylvania, where he attended local schools. He graduated from Marysville College in Maryville, Tennessee, and received Bachelor and Master of Sacred Theology degrees from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. He did graduate work in the School of Social Service of Indiana University, and at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, California. He was ordained a Presbyterian minister and served in urban missions and social service institutions in Erie, Pennsylvania, Indianapolis, Indiana, and San Francisco, California. During World War II he was appointed Field Director for the American Red Cross and served in North Africa with the 2d Armored Division, and during the invasion of Sicily and Italy with the 3d Infantry Division, where he became the first member of the Red Cross to be awarded a Silver Star in World War II. He participated in the baptism of the first baby born in liberated Sicily, one hour after the first invasion forces landed. In 1957 he entered the ministry of the Episcopal Church and was ordained to the diaconate in June, and was advanced to the priesthood in California in 1958, serving in the California diocese for four years. In 1961 he was called to be director of Historic Trinity Episcopal Church in San Francisco.
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Cemetery:
Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Silver Star
Service:
United States CivilianRank:
ReverendDivision:
3d Infantry DivisionAction Date:
July 11, 1943
War Department, General Orders No. 11 (February 7, 1944)The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Reverend James Patterson Shaw a United States Civilian, for gallantry in action while serving as Field Director, American Red Cross, attached to the 3d Infantry Division, in action on 11 July 1943, near Licata, Sicily. On that date, an enemy dive bomber scored a direct hit on a landing craft which had almost reached its position for debarkation. Reverend Shaw, who was already ashore, immediately left his position of comparative security, waded back into the rough water and assisted many men to safety. He continued to assist until the last man had been brought to shore and the wounded cared for. All of these acts were performed at the risk of his life because of attacking enemy airplanes, the explosion of ammunition on the damaged craft, and the turbulent and treacherous water. The gallantry of Reverend Shaw on this occasion is a distinct credit to himself and the American Red Cross.