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When Dick Shea came to West Point it was a highlight in the already promising career of an outstanding citizen and a distinguished soldier. From his early childhood days on a small Virginia farm, Dick’s loving parents trained him to lead the honest, Christian life that we all respect. At V.P.I., work left little time for sports or social activities, and this same serious nature was still much in evidence when Sergeant Shea worked up through the ranks to become the outstanding communications NCO in our Constabulary forces in Germany. It was here that Dick first gained recognition as an athlete of outstanding ability. The laurels he earned in the “G. I. Olympics” in Berlin were only a small prelude to what was in store. His outstanding competitive and soldierly qualities helped earn for him an appointment to the Academy, and after one year at USMA Prep, Dick entered with the Class of ’52.</div>
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Working quietly and efficiently, Dick set about building a record as a cadet, as an athlete, and as a man. A natural leader, his talents were soon recognized and he was never headed; but was always leading, always showing the way, and always doing more than his share. Dick earned distinction and well-deserved praise for his work in the Catholic Chapel, as the captain of one of Army’s greatest track teams, and as an outstanding cadet company commander. "On the fields of friendly strife”, his indomitable spirit and fighting heart etched on our memories, and in the record books, distinction as the best. By graduation, Dick Shea had become almost a legend: and many who witnessed some of his superhuman efforts were ready to attest to that legend. His selection by the AAA as the most outstanding athlete was virtually automatic.</div>
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Graduation was the fullfillment of many of the goals for which Dick had worked long and hard. He was an officer in the U.S. Army; he had graduated from the Military Academy, and after many long years of waiting, he could take as his bride, Joyce Riemann, of Oradell, New Jersey. Their deeply religious sentiments and their mutual love made the life they shared a thing of beauty.</div>
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After a few short months of intense training and happy married life, Dick, along with some of his classmates, left for Korea. The same indomitable spirit and fighting heart that was well known to his classmates carried Dick to a courageous and glorious end. Facing hopeless odds and fighting on a position that was slowly being overrun, Dick refused to withdraw from “Pork Chop” Hill. Although seriously wounded in the body and neck, Dick refused evacuation five times; instead, he re-organized and led remaining units upon the hill. Against overwhelming odds and with a heart that knew only, “do or die”, Dick with fifty remaining soldiers, died fighting for “Pork Chop” Hill. During the furious fighting, many of the wounded men who passed through the aid stations were heard praising the courage and strength of Dick Shea. Many of these eye witnesses returned to “Pork Chop” and to their deaths in those last bitter hours of fighting. Dick’s company, “A” Company of the 17th Infantry Regiment, had suffered such heavy casualties, particularly in Dick’s platoon, that the complete story of heroism above and beyond the call of duty required more than a year to be pieced together.</div>
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In 1955, at a ceremony at Fort Mycr, Virginia, the Congressional Medal of Honor was posthumously awarded to Dick and presented to his widow. Looking on was Richard T. Shea, III, born on July 10,<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1953, two days after Dick’s death. In May of 1958, the track stadium at West Point where Dick had captained the track team to many victories was renamed Shea Stadium and the Plebe summer camp site was named Camp Shea, both in his honor.</div>
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In addition to hi.s widow, who has since remarried, and his son, Dick is survived by his parents Mr. & Mrs. Richard T. Shea, Sr., of Portsmouth. Virginia, and two brothers, William G. Shea of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Robert B. Shea of Fort Worth. Texas.</div>
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<em>—Lou Davis</em></div>
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