William G. Shoemaker

Captain William G. Shoemaker  Lynn’s Most Honored Veteran

Captain William G. Shoemaker, born 1920, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Shoemaker,  is one of Lynn’s most honored, and admired veteran officers in the Third Marine Division.   He was 24 years old when he was killed during World War II on August, 3rd, 1944, during the invasion of Guam on the South Pacific.   For Shoemaker’s extraordinary heroism he was awarded a Silver Star, a Gold Star in lieu of a second Silver Star, a Navy Cross, another Gold Star in lieu of a second Navy Cross, and three Purple Hearts. 'Shoemaker grew up right here in Lynn, Massachusetts, where he attended Lynn English High School and played on the football team, then after graduation he was accepted to Boston University, where he played hockey and graduated in May, 1942.    Shortly after his graduation, he enlisted as a private in the Marine Corps Reserve in June, 1942.'  

From Nov. 9th to December 21, 1943, Shoemaker led his platoon to safety by risking his own, on three different occasions during the Empress Augusta Bay operations on Bougainville,  British Solomon Islands.  First, despite wounds from previous encounters, Shoemaker, platoon leader, aided his men against a strongly organized enemy position of Japanese forces, where his platoon was endangered to an intense machine gun and grenade, by locating the enemy.  By locating the position, his men were able to take down the machine gun nest.

On the following day, while in attack he was able to attract enemy fire, therefore he found the location, and coordinated his men to a safe withdrawal while staying behind with three other men and preventing the enemy from following the withdrawal.

Finally, on December 18, after his men were relieved, he remained behind again voluntarily with the relief unit, worked his way toward the enemy’s fire port where the machine gun was located, and killed the gunman with carbine fire.  “In the final phase of the attack, Lt. Shoemaker directed and led six flamethrowers in the destruction of several machine gun positions.  Thereafter, although wounded again, he refused to be evacuated, led a rifle platoon in the final assault, and captured another enemy position. (Lynn Item, Admiral Presents Medal to Parents of Late Capt. Shoemaker, Lynn Hero)”.  These victories awarded Shoemaker the Navy Cross forwarded by Lt. Gen. A. A. Vandegrift, U.S.M.C., commandant of the Marine Corps, and Rear Admiral Gygax read a beautiful cited tribute to his parents stating, “His outstanding courage, aggressive leadership and unselfish devotion to duty constantly inspired his men, and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”(Lynn Item, Admiral Presents Medal to Parents of Late Capt. Shoemaker, Lynn Hero).   This medal was notably named after President Roosevelt, and presented to his parents in the front of the Marine Barracks at Boston Navy Yard.  

Shoemaker Elementary School

Shoemaker’s victories, heroism, and unselfish courage during the Invasion of Guam on the South Pacific during World War II,  does tremendous honor to the city of Lynn, and his memory lives on to this day.  Our Lynn public elementary school, Shoemaker, is named after Lynn’s most decorated war veteran and his memory is being kept alive by the scrapbook of newspaper clippings and photos from his life at the Peabody Essex Museum, pieced together by Walter and Hazel Deland.

(findagrave.com)

Burial: Pine Grove Cemetery Lynn Essex County Massachusetts, USA Plot: Plot-M,Lot-435,Grave-2

(www.findagrave.com)

Bibliography

Gibney, John. LT William G. Shoemaker grave. Digital image. Find a Grave. N.p., 26 Apr. 2008. Web. 10 May 2017. <https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Shoemaker&GSfn=william&GSmn=G+&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=21&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=26402073&df=all&>.

"Admiral Present Medal to Parents Of Late Capt. Shoemaker, Lynn Hero. Ceremony Held At Navy Yard" Lynn Item [Lynn] 18 Nov. 1944: 1-2. Print.

 Lynn Item writes article on the Navy Cross awarded to Shoemaker's parents, Mr. and Mrs. John A Shoemaker.  Unknown Authors write award was named after President Roosevelt.  This article quotes Rear Admiral Gygax's citation read at the ceremony to his parents regarding his heroism in the Bougainville operations.  Also, it quotes part of the letter of appreciation for Shoemaker's heroism against Japanese forces in the Empress Augusta Bay operations on Bougaineville, British Solomon Islands,  written to his parents from Lt. General Vedegrift.  The article summarizes Shoemaker's life in Lynn before the military along with a list of the other medals he received for his heroic duty as a Platoon leader.