George J. O'Shea

George Joseph O'Shea (March 24, 1899 – August 17, 1983) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of brigadier general. He was decorated with the Navy Cross, the United States military's second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat, during Battle of Sapotillal in October 1927. O'Shea served in the Pacific theater during World War II and retired in 1952 as director of the 1st Marine Corps Reserve District in Boston.

Early career

O'Shea was born on March 24, 1899, in Brooklyn, New York, as the son of George and Marcella O'Shea. He attended the Brooklyn College Preparatory School and subsequently received appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, in June 1918. He graduated with Bachelor of Science degree in June 1922 and was commissioned second lieutenant in the Marine Corps at the same time. Many of his classmates became general officers later: Hyman G. Rickover, Robert E. Blick Jr., Herbert S. Duckworth, Clayton C. Jerome, James P. Riseley, James A. Stuart, Frank Peak Akers, Sherman Clark, Raymond P. Coffman, Delbert S. Cornwell, Frederick J. Eckhoff, Hugh H. Goodwin, John Higgins, Vernon Huber, Michael J. Malanaphy, William S. Parsons, Albert K. Morehouse, Harold F. Pullen, Harold R. Stevens, John P. Whitney, Lyman G. Miller and Ralph B. DeWitt.

He returned to the United States in January 1945 and became an instructor at the Army-Navy Staff College in Washington, D.C., and remained in that capacity for the duration of the War.

Later service

In May 1946, O'Shea was detached to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in connection with the declassification of naval combat records. He served in that assignment until June 1947, when he was sent to Guam, for duty as deputy chief of staff to the Commander Marianas under Rear Admiral George D. Murray and, following his promotion to colonel in August 1947, he was appointed assistant chief of staff for plans to the Commander Marianas.