Obituaries: Sgt. J. E. Hershal Shaw, 1944, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: March 2 & 9, 1944 Winn Parish Enterprise

Sgt. J. E. Hershal Shaw Reported Missing in Action

James E. Shaw of Atlanta, Rt. 1, was notified Wednesday that his son, Sergeant
J. E. Hershal Shaw, 21, has been reported missing in action over Germany since
February 10.  The message from the Adjutant General stated that further
details will be sent to Mr. Shaw promptly after such information is received
by the war department.

Sgt. Shaw was stationed in England the later part of December and was on his
second mission when his plane was lost over Germany.  He was assistant radio
operator on a flying fortress.

Soon after entering services Sgt. Shaw attended airplane mechanic school from
which he graduated at Lincoln, Nebraska, one year ago.  He took further
training in airplane mechanics at Seattle, Washington, and completed aerial
gunnery school at Las Vegas, Nevada, in June, 1943.  His next training was
in radio, after which he was assigned as assistant radio operator on a
flying fortress.

Other than his father, Sgt. Shaw has one brother, O. H. Shaw of Rt. 1 Atlanta,
and a number of distant relatives residing in Winn Parish.


SGT. J. E. Hershel Shaw, U. S. Army Air Corps, has been reported missing
in action since February 10, 1944, a message from the Adjutant General,
Washington, D. C. informed his father, J. E. Shaw of Rt. 1, Atlanta.

Sgt. Shaw had been stationed in England for several months, had completed one
mission, and was on the second when his plane was lost over Germany.  He wrote
to his father on Feb. 9, the day before he was reported missing in action and
explained that he would soon go on another mission.

A part of the letter from the Adjutant General to Mr. Shaw about his son
stated "Experience has show that many persons reported missing in action are
subsequently reported as being prisoners of war.  However, since we are
entirely dependent upon governments with which we are at war ___ toward this
information, the war department is helpless to expedite these reports."

Sgt. Shaw 'graduated' from the Winnfield High School senior class of 1940.  He
completed a course in diesel engines and was later employed in Memphis, Tenn.
He entered service September, 1942, and served in Kentucky, Missouri, and at
Lincoln, Neb., before going overseas January 1, 1944.

Other than his father, Sgt. Shaw has one brother, O. H. Shaw, or Rt. 1,
Atlanta.