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<em>Hamilton Bruce Shawe, Jr</em>. was born in Corvallis, OR, to Hamilton Bruce and Frieda Rhodes Shawe. When he was a year old, the family moved to Gardnerville, NV, where his father was a high school principal. Bruce spent his childhood in Gardnerville, and it was there he developed his love for reading, education, hard work, and service, which stood him so well in later years.</p>
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Bruce graduated from Douglas High School in 1941 and then spent a year at the University of Nevada–Reno, before being appointed to West Point by Senator Pat McCarran. In 1943, he entered the Academy, dedicating himself to a lifetime of service to his country. He graduated with the Class of ’46, a three-year class shortened by WWII.</p>
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He chose the Air Corps as his branch, which later split from the Army to become the Air Force. Thereafter, Bruce’s career was set to grow with the new Air Force. Among the many bonds he shared in his lifetime, he felt particularly proud of his friendships with GEN Alexander Haig (former Secretary of State, lacrosse teammate, and D-1 company mate), GEN Lew Allen, Jr. (former Air Force Chief of Staff and classmate), GEN Bryce Poe (former CC of Air Force Logistics Command and classmate), BG Robbie Risner (Viet Nam POW bonded by common experience) and COL John Doolittle (D-1 classmate and son of GEN Jimmy Doolittle).</p>
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Bruce began his Air Force career at Langley AFB in 1947. He then was assigned to the 8th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Tokyo Air Base in Japan, and when the Korean War broke out in June 1950, he was one of the first pilots to fly in support of our vastly out-gunned, out-manned, ground forces. He continued his ground support role until November 1950 when, on his 88th mission, his F-4 aircraft crashed due to engine failure (later determined to be sabotage). For the next 33 months, Bruce spent a never-to-be-forgotten period of turmoil, despair, and hope in a North Korean POW camp. He was released across the Freedom Bridge at Panmunjom in September 1953.</p>
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Bruce continued his career flying F-86s and F-100s at George Air Force Base in Victorville, CA, where he met and married his wife of 48 years, Bettie Teague. Next, he was assigned as a military studies instructor to the newly established Air Force Academy, as part of the Academy’s first instructor cadre at its temporary site in Lowry AFB, CO, before transferring to its permanent Colorado Springs site. After an exchange tour at the Royal Air Force Command and Staff School in Andover, England, and a stint with the Royal Air Force flying the Hawker Hunter and the Mach 2 English Electric Lightning, he returned to George Air Force Base in 1963. There he joined the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron and, in July 1965, assumed command of the 68th Tactical Squadron. One month later, he took the squadron to Southeast Asia in support of the war in Viet Nam. As squadron commander, Bruce felt he had to lead his men into combat, and he therefore requested, and received, a special waiver to allow him to fly combat missions in Viet Nam (the waiver was required due to his former POW status). His roommate in Thailand was Robbie Risner, who often asked him what it was like being a POW in Korea.</p>
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Following his safe return from that challenging tour, Bruce took his family to Rhode Island, where he attended the Naval War College. He then returned to George Air Force Base for one year before moving to Maxwell Field, AL, on another educational hiatus as Director of Curriculum at Squadron Officers School. Bruce then was assigned to Kelly AFB in Texas, where he served in Material Management, responsible for the procurement, repair, and distribution of $1.2 billion in aircraft ground handling equipment. While awaiting further assignment opportunities, he weighed his period of service with the needs of his family, and though an opportunity for a star and a command in Alaska was offered, he elected to retire in southern California.</p>
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Bruce chose real estate for his next career, obtained a broker’s license, purchased an existing company, and built it into the largest real estate brokerage firm in the area, with 23 sales associates. After 10 years with real estate, however, he couldn’t stay away from the “Big Blue” any longer. He joined Rockwell in a new career as an engineer on the B-1 program, and when that matured, he transferred to Northrop’s B-2 program. After a very successful third career, Bruce decided to retire completely at the young age of 70.</p>
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He and Bettie returned to Nevada to live out their days on the Dayton Valley Golf Course. It was not to be, however, due to health problems. By June 2002, Bruce’s heart condition and dementia problem, aggravated by his POW days, required constant care. During his last four months, he lived at Langley AFB with his youngest daughter and her family. Bettie joined him in November in Virginia, and on Christmas morning, when she went to his room to open his gifts, she found he had quietly passed away during the night.</p>
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Bruce had a full military life, with combat tours in Korea and Viet Nam earning him the Silver Star, three Distinguished Flying crosses, a Bronze Star, and eight Air Medals. His family life was just as prolific, leaving him and Bettie with two sons and two daughters, ten grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. He was a distinguished Airman, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a success in all endeavors. He truly gave his all in duty and honor to his country, a commitment from his West Point heritage. His family now adds, “Be Thou at Peace.”</p>
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<em>His devoted wife and family, </em><em>and ’46 D-1 Company Memorial Project</em></p>