Please click here to view a student eulogy for Shaw at Houston National Cemetery in 2025: https://youtu.be/ThRjVh0L2qc. 

Biography - Part 1

Early Life
Ernest Kelly Shaw was born on August 29, 1926, in segregated Terrell, Texas, where his family valued agriculture, education and religion. Cotton was the main crop where he grew up and involved hard work. Shaw’s environment revolved around family crops that went far beyond just putting food on the table. 

In an oral history, Shaw stated:

"We talked a little about what the bolls would do to your fingers.  But, like most things, once your fingers were hardened off as it were, you know it was not a problem.  Now the problem for me, as a person, was having to bend over and reach down to pick the cotton.  I remember on one occasion I was standing up a little more than I should rather than bending over.  My father said, ‘You need to bend over and pick a little faster. We’d pick a little over two hundred pounds in a day.’"

Ernest Shaw grew up in a racially segregated environment. Segregated areas of town included theaters, restaurants, banks, restrooms, and even water fountains. White areas of town were cleaner and well-managed compared to Black areas of town. Mr. Shaw recollected, “There were several so-called Black owned businesses. Particularly like the undertaker and things like that, beauty shops and barbershops.” Shaw was not allowed to enter White businesses growing up, but his father told him in times of adversity, “to take care of yourself, do your work well, and help others when you can.”

Another important aspect of Ernest Shaw’s life growing up was religion and education. Shaw described how,

"We’d leave school and go to the church and I think one of the tremendous benefits was that many of the teachers in the school also were members of the church so there was a continuation of education. Some of the theory and concepts you would learn at school you would apply them at church, like public speaking, socializing, and also the people, there was a warmth between the teacher and the student."

Mr. Shaw attended the all-Black I.M. Terrell High School and, after school hours, attended services at the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Terrell, Texas. The Shaw family saw the value of an education for a brighter future. 

After he graduated from high school, Shaw immediately joined the military, even though he was underage at 17. He enlisted during World War II in 1945, and served in the Philippines as a clerk.

Homefront
Terrell, Texas, saw a transformation from a primarily agricultural landscape to an industrial area during the World War II and Korean War eras. A British flight training school operated in Terrell, Texas, from 1941 to 1945. The British government had a difficult time training their Royal Air Force in bad English weather. Terrell was chosen because of its vast expanse of farmland that made it a prime location for air training. Terrell residents housed some of the British training pilots and Shaw’s family often saw planes practicing maneuvers. The school was shuttered in 1949 to make room for an industrial park that included a small airport, an agricultural college, and a natural gas company, among other businesses that expanded during the Korean War. 

Terrell, Texas, aided the Korean War effort on the homefront. The Ranger Boot and Shoe Manufacturing Company secured a contract to make and send 40,000 pairs of shoes a month to the U.S. Army in 1951. Hillsboro, Texas, about an hour from Terrell, grew castor beans for the Korean War effort. Castor bean oil was used for hydraulic brakes, lubrication for jet engines, and other military machinery. 

Weekends in Terrell during the 1950’s included popular sports, such as baseball, bowling, boxing, and golf, as well as movies and bars. Establishments were still segregated during this time frame. As a result, Shaw’s family members were limited in where they were allowed to go based on their race. It was a common scene to see women wearing fashionable dresses in public with men wearing suits.

Bibliography

Primary Sources
“Armed Forces Industrial Mobilization Course Open.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram [Fort Worth, TX], May 13, 1952. Newspapers.com (636735231). 

Dr. Ernest K. Shaw. Photograph. Southern Oral History Program Interviews, University of North Carolina Libraries, Digital Collections Repository. https://dcr.lib.unc.edu/record/85583915-d84a-4d06-b1fd-6f2cf3704949.  

Ernest K. Shaw Collection. Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress (AFC/2001/001/68787). http://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.68787/. 

Ernest Kelly Shaw. Texas, Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981. Digital images. https://familysearch.org/.  

Ernest Kelly Shaw. Texas, U.S. Select County Marriage Records, 1837-1965. https://ancestry.com/.  

Ernest Kelly Shaw. Texas, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947. Digital images. https:/ancestry.com.  

Ernest Kelly Shaw, Veteran Eligibility Letter, Houston National Cemetery. Department of Veterans Affairs.

“Ernest Shaw helps other veterans.” Houston Chronicle [Houston, Texas], November 7, 2007. https://www.chron.com/news/article/Ernest-Shaw-helps-other-veterans-1825891.php.  

“Experts Agree to List Ike As 34th U.S. President.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram [Fort Worth, TX], December 15, 1952. Newspapers.com (636734264). 

Ford Advertisement. Fort Worth Star-Telegram  [Fort Worth, TX], December 15, 1952. Newspapers.com (636734264).

“GI's push for battlefield equality led to command, valor in Korea.” Houston Chronicle [Houston, TX], May 13, 1996. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/.  

“A GLIMPSE OF HISTORY - VA Medical Center exhibit honors Houston area veterans - Southeast resident donates wartime medals, photos, artifacts.” Houston Chronicle [Houston, TX], May 1, 2008. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/. 

Herman Nathanal Shaw. Texas, Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981. Digital images. https://familysearch.org/.  

“Hill Farmers Plant Castor Bean Planting.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram  [Fort Worth, TX], September 23, 1951. Newspapers.com (638135371).

 I.M. Terrell High School. Photograph. 1921. University of North Texas Libraries (SCH 29.503). https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth9630/. 

An Interview with Ernest K. Shaw. Interview by Annie Golden, Harris County Archives Oral History Collection. January 25, 2007. https://www.harriscountyarchives.com/Portals/1/Documents/oralHistories/OH05Shaw.Final.pdf.  

Julia Eliza Anderson. Texas, Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981. Digital images. https://familysearch.org/.  

“Lone Star Gas Advertisement.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram  [Fort Worth, TX], November 20, 1950. Newspapers.com (637219573). 

Michele Shaw. Texas, U.S. Birth Index, 1903-1997. Digital images. https://ancestry.com/.  

“Motion Pictures Head List on Entertainment Intake; Bowling Alleys Second.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram  [Fort Worth, TX], March 20, 1942. Newspapers.com (636502406). 

Necchi Advertisement. Fort Worth Star-Telegram [Fort Worth, TX], December 6, 1953. Newspapers.com (637483615). 

Ernest and Naomi Shaw. Photograph. Southern Oral History Program Interviews, University of North Carolina Libraries, Digital Collections Repository. https://dcr.lib.unc.edu/record/1dda1bfe-8e63-4ba1-81fa-e08e16c43a93.   

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas. Map. 1921. Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/sanborn08780_008/.   

Shaw Holding Silver Star. Photograph. Southern Oral History Program Interviews, University of North Carolina Libraries, Digital Collections Repository. https://dcr.lib.unc.edu/record/e86c0961-2d58-4552-bdc5-b7d1a63aa577#file-display.  

“Small City Industry.” Dallas Morning News [Dallas, TX], September 28, 1950. https://www.newsbank.com.  

“Stein’s Advertisement.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram [Fort Worth, TX], October 19, 1950. Newspapers.com (636727857). 

Texas. Kaufman County. 1910 U.S. Census. Digital images. https://ancestry.com/.  

Texas. Kaufman County. 1930 U.S. Census. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com/.  

Texas. Kaufman County. 1940 U.S. Census. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com/. 

Texas. Kaufman County. 1950 U.S. Census. Digital Images.https://ancestry.com/.  

“VA Medical Center exhibit honors Houston area veterans.” Houston Chronicle [Houston, TX], May 1, 2008. https://www.newsbank.com.  

Washer Bros. Advertisement. Fort Worth Star-Telegram [Fort Worth, TX], July 24, 1942. Newspapers.com (636967933).

Secondary Sources

Cline, David P. Twice Forgotten: African Americans and the Korean War, An Oral History. University of North Carolina Press, 2021.

“Ernest Kelly Shaw.” Find a Grave. Updated April 28, 2016. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/161811892/ernest_kelly-shaw. 

“Ernest Kelly Shaw.” National Cemetery Administration. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.cem.va.gov/nationwide-gravesite-locator/.   

“Ernest Kelly Shaw.” Veterans Legacy Memorial, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/ERNESTKELLYSHAW/D946AB7. 

Guttman, John. “Looking at the Korean War, 71 Years Later.” HistoryNet. December 5, 2020. https://www.historynet.com/korean-war-images/.   

Haeussler, Bailey. “Burnett, William Henry (1872-1944).” Texas State Historical Association. Updated May 15, 2013. Accessed October 19, 2024. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/burnett-william-henry. 

Hart, Brian. “Kaufman County.” Texas State Historical Association. Updated November 17, 2020. Accessed November 29, 2024. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/kaufman-county.  

“History & Mission.” No 1 British Flying Training School Museum. Updated 2024. Accessed November 29, 2024. https://www.bftsmuseum.org/world-war-ii-museum-terrell-texas/.  

“History.” Terrell Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau. Last modified March 8, 2020. Accessed November 27, 2024. https://www.terrelltexas.com/visit-terrell/history/.  

“Korean War – the Battle Of Heartbreak Ridge.” Together We Served. Accessed January 17, 2025. https://blog.togetherweserved.com/korean-war-the-battle-of-heartbreak-ridge/.

Livingston, Katherine. [Industrial Building Cotton Oil Mill, (East Elevation)]. Photograph. March 1981. University of North Texas Libraries. https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth664208/.  

“Naomi Jewel Ellison Shaw.” Find a Grave. Updated February 25, 2000. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1173179/naomi_jewel_ellison-shaw. 

“No. 1 British Flying Training School Museum, Inc.” Texas Historical Commission. https://texastimetravel.com/directory/no-1-british-flying-training-school-museum-inc/.  

Stoltz, Jack. Terrell, Texas, 1873-1973; from Open Country to Modern City. Naylor Co, 1973. 

Stoltz, Jack. “Terrell, TX.” Texas State Historical Association. Updated May 14, 2019. Accessed November 29, 2024. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/terrell-tx.  

“William Henry Burnett Marker.” The Historical Marker Database. September 3, 2016. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=97646.

This profile was researched by Sabrina Burnett, Valentin Castaneda, Luis Cruz, Bailey Ingram, Lane Law, Evan Magallon, Gabrielle McClellan, Caleb Pimentel, Ava Stankiewicz, and Cade Zaragoza, mentored by Navasota High School teacher Mrs. Heather Watkins, as part of a Veterans Legacy Grant Program led by National History Day in the 2024/2025 academic year.

This profile was funded by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.


An African American man, wearing a corduroy jacket and tie.

Ernest Kelly Shaw’s World War II draft card, May 15, 1944. National Archives and Records Administration.

Ernest Kelly Shaw's World War II draft card.

A Marine using a flamethrower to flush out enemy troops, May 5, 1951. U.S. Marine Corps History Division.

A U.S. Marine uses a flamethrower in combat.

Ernest Shaw pictured with his wife, Naomi Shaw. University of North Carolina Libraries Digital Collections Repository.

An African American man and woman in a posed portrait.

First Lieutenant Ernest Kelly Shaw holding his Silver Star. University of North Carolina Libraries Digital Collections Repository.

An African American Veteran displays his Silver Star and helmet.

Ernest Shaw, left, with Dorris Knotts, at a Veteran event. Houston Chronicle, November 7, 2007.

Two African American Veterans attend an event.

Ernest Shaw’s grave at Houston National Cemetery in Houston, Texas, March 24, 2025.

Ernest Shaw's grave at Houston National Cemetery has flowers on it.

Ernest Shaw's grave at Houston National Cemetery.

An article explaining Shaw’s donation of medals, artifacts, and photographs from the Korean War era to a Veteran Administration exhibit. Houston Chronicle, May 1, 2008.

A newspaper article with the headline, "VA Medical Center exhibit honors Houston area veterans."

I.M. Terrell High School, the segregated high school Ernest Kelly Shaw attended, 1921. University of North Texas Libraries (SCH 29.503).

A large African American high school with students gathered on the front lawn.

Aid station at Heartbreak Ridge, 1951. Together We Served.

An aid station in a destroyed hill in Korea.

ERNEST KELLY SHAW

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