More detail on this person: Claude Lee Shepard Jr. USMA Class of 1939. Claude Lee Shepard Jr. was born in Murray, Iowa, the son of Claude Lee Shepard and Anita Daniel Shepard and grew up in Corydon, Iowa. After failing his final check ride in the Air Corps he was assigned to the 15th Field Artillery Regiment at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. Command of a battery in the 8th Field Artillery followed. After Pearl Harbor, he qualified as a pilot and was sent to North Africa, where he joined the Seventh Army as an Artillery air officer. His awards included the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, two Air Medals, a Commendation Ribbon and the Croix de Guerre. After World War II his assignments included: Army Ground Forces from 1946 to 1949; Deputy Commander, Aviation Division, Fort Sill and San Marcos, Texas; Command, where he pushed the concepts of Army aviation during 1950 to 1953 and 96th Field Artillery battalion commanding officer during 1954 to 1955. He also graduated from the Army War College. He was assigned to Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Pentagon for four years, then command of the 72d Frontal Aviation Group in Europe. During 1962 to 1963, he was an Aviation officer, Seventh Army. When he returned to the States, he served at Simulation, Training and Instrumentation Command until 1965. He was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal. His last assignment was as commanding officer at Campbell Army Airfield. He was awarded the Legion of Merit and the Air Commendation Medal and later was named to the Army Aviation Hall of Fame. After 30 years of service, he earned a master's degree in urban and regional management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He was the staff associate for the Department of Legal Studies at Amherst from 1973 to August 1997. He died on February 15, 1998. Survivors included his wife of 47 years, two daughters and one son. The Shep Shepard award was created by the faculty in Legal Studies to honor his memory. The award recognizes graduating honors seniors who have demonstrated continued commitment to academic excellence and have written exceptional honors theses or capstones. Source: United States Military Academy Association of Graduates memorial and University of Massachusetts at Amherst Department of Legal Studies.
Burial information: United States Military Academy Post Cemetery, West Point, NY
This information was last updated 08/13/2020
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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