SFC Christopher Shaw

Published 12:00 am Monday, October 12, 2009

NATCHEZ — Services for Sergeant First Class Christopher D. Shaw, 37, who died on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, on Jolo Island, Philippines, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Natchez Convention Center under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home of Bude.

Burial will follow at the Natchez National Cemetery where SFC Shaw will receive military honors following funeral services.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time at the Natchez Convention Center.

Shaw was born Nov. 19, 1971, in Natchez, the son of Camille Felton and Walter Owens.

Shaw died after his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device Sept. 29, 2009.

He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces group (airborne), in Fort Lewis, Wash., and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines. The was his second deployment in support of OEF-P.

Shaw enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve on Nov. 22, 1994, while attending Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas, on a track and field scholarship. In May 1995, he decided to put his education on hold and joined the active duty Army as a forward observer. Upon completion of basic training, advanced individual training and the U.S. Army Airborne School, he was assigned as a fire support specialist to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Lewis, Wash.

In 1997, SFC Shaw volunteered for special forces assessment and selection course and completed the special forces qualification course in 1999. He was then assigned to 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Lewis, Wash. He later served as an instructor at the special forces qualification course at Camp Mackall, N.C., and subsequently returned to 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Lewis.

SFC Shaw’s military education includes the U.S. Army Airborne School, U.S. Army Ranger course, U.S. Army jumpmaster course, basic instructor training course, advanced noncommissioned officer course, warrior leader course, special operations course, target interdiction course, combat lifesaver course, survival, evasion, resistance and escape course and the special forces qualification course.

SFC Shaw’s awards and decorations include two Meritorious Service Medals, the Army Commendation Medal, four Army Achievement Medals, four Army Good Conduct Medals, two National Defense Service Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Noncommissioned OSF Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral three device, the Meritorious Unit citation and the Philippine Presidential Unit citation.

SFC Shaw earned the special forces tab, Ranger tab and the parachutist badge.

He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star medal, the Purple Heart the Meritorious Service Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

SFC Shaw holds a bachelor of science degree in history from Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, N.J.

SFC Shaw leaves to cherish his memories a loving wife, Attina Shaw; children, Darian Shaw, Erielle Smith, Jalyn Smith, Dante Shaw and Cydney Shaw, all of Fort Lewis, Wash.; his mother and step-father Willie Felton of Chicago and his father, of Port Wentworth, Ga.; two brothers, Orlando Shaw of Chicago, and Maurey Owens of Jackson; two sisters, Kenya Shaw of Chicago, and Gwen Owens of Atlanta; mother- and father-in-law, the Rev. and Mrs. Larry Wright Sr.; and a number of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.