Staff Sgt. Eric B. Shaw’s widow receives his DSC

Staff Sgt. Eric B. Shaw’s widow, Audrey R. Shaw, received his Distinguished Service Cross in a ceremony at Fort Campbell, KY last week according to Army.Mil. SSG Shaw was a member of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) on June 27, 2010, in the Marawara District, Kunar Province, Afghanistan when he gave his life in service to the US:

The award citation explains Shaw encountered enemy fire while his squad attempted to seize the village of Daridam. He gave his own life after coming to the aid of a 12 Afghan National Army soldiers who got cut off from the 1st BCT squad and led them back to U.S. forces when enemy fire struck him.

Shaw’s actions that day are “an inspiration to us for how he lived his life and sacrificed it for his country,” [Gen. David M. Rodriguez, commander of U.S. Forces Command] said. The incident occurred during the 31-year-old’s third deployment. Shaw joined the Army in October 2004 — at a time when U.S. forces remained on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Audrey recalls her husband as a humble man, who became a Soldier not for glory or fame. She said he would be humbled to receive the Distinguished Service Cross, which is second only to the Medal of Honor.

“I don’t do it so people can recognize me; I do it because it’s what I love,” Audrey remembered him telling her once as she affixed a 101st Airborne sticker to their vehicle.

Category: Real Soldiers