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Shaw pins on eagles amid family, friends

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Andrew McLaughlin
  • 434th ARW Public Affairs
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. --  Surrounded by family, friends and colleagues, a newly promoted colonel reflected on his time at Grissom before bidding farewell.

Col. Larry H. Shaw III, 434th Operations Support Squadron commander, pinned on his silver eagles during a special ceremony here May 4.

During the ceremony, Maj. Brian Thompson, 74th Air Refueling Squadron assistant chief pilot, summarized Shaw's life and career and also noted how military service runs deep in the Shaw family.

Many of the new colonel's close relatives have also worn a military uniform, including his father, Larry H. Shaw II, who retired as an Air Force senior master sergeant.

After his children, Chelsea and Austin, pinned colonel insignia onto his shoulders, an emotional Shaw expressed his appreciation to his family, friends and fellow Airmen for their support.

He spoke of how proud he was of his children and also shared the story of how he and his wife, Kris, first met. He also thanked his mother, Joleen, who was in attendance, for how she raised him and kept him in line during his youth.

Shaw, who has flown missions in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, also reflected on the wartime missions he conducted with his fellow flyers.

"It was an honor to serve with you," he said.

Shaw was commissioned as a second lieutenant after completing ROTC at the University of Nebraska in 1988 and then began his regular Air Force career as a KC-135 Stratotanker navigator.

In 1996, he joined the 72nd Air Refueling Squadron here as a traditional reservist, where he served for six months before joining the 74th ARS. In 1997, he attended undergraduate pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.

After completing pilot training, Shaw returned to Grissom to serve in his new role. Over his career, he has accumulated more than 5,700 military flying hours.

With his promotion, Shaw will move on to his new position as 927th Operations Group commander at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. In this position, Shaw will be directly responsible for the day-to-day mission of the 927th Air Refueling Wing's KC-135 flying mission.

The 434th OSS supports the flying mission of the 434th Air Refueling Wing, the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Airmen and aircraft from the 434th ARW routinely deploy around the globe in support of the Air Force mission and U.S. strategic objectives.

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Public Affairs Staff

Material contained on the Official Grissom Air Reserve Base Internet Web Site is written and produced by members of the 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office. The award-winning staff includes:

Ben Mota
Chief, public affairs

Maj. Elias Zani
Public affairs officer

Master Sgt. Wendy Day
Staff writer

Tech. Sgt. Alexa Culbert
Staff writer

Senior Airman Elise Faurote
Staff writer

Senior Airman Benjamin Cowles
Staff writer