Colonel John M. Shaw was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 18 September 1943, class number 297. His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader, 159th Infantry Regiment. His subsequent duty assignments include: Company Commander, 16 Constabulary Squadron, Berlin Germany; Instructor, ROTC Staff, Oklahoma State University; Battalion Executive and Battalion Assistant Army Attache, Office of Army Attach, Anakara, Turkey; Secretary of the General, Fourth U.S. Army, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Battalion Commander, 1st Cavalry Division, Korea; Office of J-3, Organization of Joint Chief of Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.; Commanding Officer, 1st Armored Division, Fort Hood Texas; G-3, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas; Chief of Staff, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. | His awards and decoration include: Chief of Staff Identification Badge, Army Commendation Medal, Legion of Merit.