Frederick B. Shaw

Frederick B. Shaw (June 24, 1869 – March 1, 1957) was a senior officer of the United States Army. A veteran of the Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, Pancho Villa Expedition, and World War I, he attained the rank of brigadier general and is best known for commanding the 162d Depot Brigade and 36th Infantry Brigade, 18th Division.

Early life and career Frederick Benjamin Shaw was born in Burlington, Pennsylvania, on June 24, 1869, a son of a son of Charles David and Mary Helen (Dickinson) Shaw. He was raised and educated in Smithfield Township, Pennsylvania, and Elmira, New York, then worked as a schoolteacher. He later became a reporter and editor for several Chemung County newspapers and joined the New York National Guard's 30th Separate Company.

In 1892, Shaw quit the newspaper business with the intent of pursuing a fulltime military career. Shaw served in the enlisted ranks for three years and attained the rank of corporal.

War with Spain At the start of the War with Spain in 1898, the 5th Infantry was ordered to guard duty at ports and military facilities on the coast of South Carolina. In 1905, he performed temporary duty as an inspector of the Arkansas National Guard. In 1906, he graduated from the Infantry and Cavalry School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas (now the Command and General Staff College).

From 1908 to 1909, Shaw served with the 30th Infantry during its posting to Manila in the Philippines. After returning to the United States he was assigned to temporary recruiting duty and assigned to Fort Slocum, New York. In 1911 he rejoined his regiment, which was stationed in San Diego. In 1912, Shaw transferred to the 8th Infantry and he again served in the Philippines. After returning to the United States in 1913, he was transferred to the 26th Infantry Regiment. In 1914, he was posted to Fort Brady, Michigan, where he was assigned as post commander and quartermaster. In 1916, Shaw rejoined the 30th Infantry at Plattsburgh Barracks, New York.

World War I In July 1916, Shaw was promoted to major followed by assignment as commander of the 2d Replacement Brigade at Camp Gordon, Georgia.

In October 1918, Shaw was promoted to temporary brigadier general He also served as acting division commander on several occasions. and was assigned as head of recruiting for the Army's Northeastern District, based in Boston. In January 1920, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, and in July he was promoted to colonel. In 1921, Shaw graduated from the Infantry Field Officers Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. In June 1921, he was assigned to the 37th Infantry Regiment at Fort Wayne, Michigan. Later that year, he was reassigned as senior instructor and advisor for the West Virginia National Guard. In 1923, he was assigned as chief of National Guard affairs for the Fifth Corps Area, based at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana.

In 1926 he was assigned as chief of the training section of the Militia Bureau staff. In 1928, he was assigned to command the 2d Infantry at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. In 1930, Shaw was assigned as senior instructor and advisor for the Kentucky and Indiana National Guards.

Death and legacy Shaw reached the mandatory retirement age of 64 and left the Army as a colonel on June 30, 1933. As the result of a 1930 law allowing World War I general officers to retire at the highest rank they had held during the war, Shaw was promoted to brigadier general on the Army's retired list. In retirement, he was a resident of Arlington, Virginia. Shaw died in Washington, D.C., on March 1, 1957. and he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Shaw was the author of two books, 1930's One Hundred and Forty Years of Service in Peace and War: History of the Second Infantry, United States Army and 1942's History of the Shaw Family and Descendants of Anthony Shaw, the First American Ancestor, Who Arrived Before 1653.

Effective dates of promotion Second Lieutenant, March 23, 1896 First Lieutenant, August 22, 1898 Captain, April 15, 1901 Major, July 1, 1916 Colonel (temporary), August 5, 1917 Brigadier General (temporary), October 1, 1918 Major, February 1, 1919 Lieutenant Colonel, January 6, 1920 Colonel, July 1, 1920 Brigadier General (Retired List), June 30, 1933