8/8/2023 0 Comments Camp pendleton korean linguist![]() He earned a bachelor's degree in languages and linguistics from Georgetown and a master's degree in international relations from American University. Shaw retired from active military duty as a master sergeant in 1955. They lived for a time in Japan, where John Shaw ran the Pass Office, through which all Japanese and non-Americans had to pass to enter Yokosuka Naval Base. Reunited in 1953, the couple vowed never to be separated again. Because of his language skills, he was assigned to a Korean Marine Corps unit on reconnaissance missions along enemy lines. They married in 1951 before he was shipped off for training at Camp Pendleton in California en route to Korea during the war there. "As it turned out, we were only a distraction to each other." ![]() "He thought I would be a distraction to the rest of the class," Janet Shaw said. As she tells it, Shaw looked down on her because she was the only female in the advanced classical Chinese class. He met his future wife, Janet, who goes by her middle name, in 1950 while both were enrolled at Georgetown University's Institute of Languages and Linguistics. He received a Bronze Star for the assignment. Knowing Japanese gave him an advantage when he was assigned to care for 20,000 Japanese civilians living in refugee camps in war zones at the end of World War II. ![]() His firm understanding of Mandarin helped him later master Japanese and Korean. He demonstrated a sharp ear for understanding the complex dialect, and within a relatively short time, spoke and wrote Mandarin well enough to serve as an interpreter for the investigation section of the U.S. It was a fascinating time to be in Peking: the Forbidden City with its ancient halls and grand palaces the Buddhist temples and the opera houses.Īfter learning that no regulations forbade him from studying Mandarin, he opted to continue his lessons. Between them is a low, square table with a pot and cups. One of the pictures taken in the 1930s shows her husband wearing a traditional Chinese robe sitting ramrod straight on a handsomely carved k'ang, a traditional platform for sitting or sleeping. "He was mesmerized by the country, the people, the culture, all of it," she said, her eyes fixed on old black-and-white photographs of her husband, who died of cancer Feb. Shaw, who was valedictorian of his high school graduating class of 12 students, was naturally curious about this new world opening up before him, his wife, Sara Janet Shaw, said in an interview last week in an apartment they shared at Charlestown Retirement Community in Catonsville, Md. ![]() He chose the latter.ĭuring his deployment to China as part of a military guard force protecting American civilians and property in the chaotic years after the Boxer Rebellion, Shaw took it upon himself to hire a private tutor to teach him Mandarin. Shaw, a slim, brown-haired farm boy from upstate New York, faced an ultimatum from his company commander: Stop taking private Chinese language courses from locals or forgo any possibility of a promotion during his tour. Marine stationed in the Chinese capital, Peking, now Beijing. "We were given the medal so we can always remember we were there," said Vasquez, president of the Southern California Chapter of the Marine 1st Division Association based in Oceanside.Although he may not have realized it at the time, John Robert Shaw set the course for his life with a simple act of defiance in 1937 as a young U.S. Daniel Yoo, assistant division commander of Marine Forces Pacific 1st Marine Division along with Arthur "AJ" Burn, president of the 1st Marine Division Association, Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood and Young Chu Park, chairman of the Marine House.Īmong the veterans receiving medals were Private First Class James R. ![]() Vincent Coglianese, commanding general 1st Marine Logistics Group retired Maj. David Berger, I MEF Commanding General Maj. Lawrence Nicholson, commanding general, 1st Marine Division Lt. A number of military and civilian leaders attended the ceremony, including Maj. ![]()
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