AUGUSTA – Staff Sgt. Eric Byron Shaw, 31, of Clarksville, Tenn., was killed in action Sunday, June 27, 2010, while serving in Afghanistan. He was born June 23, 1979, in Massachusetts, and was raised in Exeter by his now deceased father, Gerald Shaw; and Alta Gould, his late grandmother. He was a graduate of Dexter High School and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Southern Maine in 2003. Eric joined the U.S. Army Infantry in fall 2004. During his six years of service, Staff Sgt. Shaw held numerous positions, which include M249 squad automatic rifleman, rifle squad fire team leader and infantry squad leader. His awards include Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Air Assault Badge, Good Conduct Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. He will be receiving three awards posthumously: Bronze Star, Purple Heart and NATO Medal. Eric served three tours of duty with the 101st Airborne from Fort Campbell, Ky., in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from September 2005 to September 2006, and September 2007 to November 2009. He was killed while serving his third tour of duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He met his wife, Audrey (Moore) Shaw in fall 2002 and they were married in March 2005. They have three children, Madison, age 5, Victoria, age 2, and Julia who is 1 month old. Eric is also survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins, including cousin, Daniel Plunkett of Milford, N.H., aunt, Brenda Shaw and uncle, Rodney Shaw, of Corinna and aunt, Arlene Gould of Stetson; and grandfather, Bob Gould, also of Stetson. He is also remembered by his mother-in-law, Jane Moore of Augusta; his father-in-law, Maurice Moore of Winthrop; and his sister-in-law, Ericka Deering and her husband, Troy of Gardiner. His biological mother, Michele Campbell, resides in Rhode Island. Eric was predeceased by his father, Gerald Shaw; his grandmother, Alta Gould; and his paternal grandfather, Byron Shaw of Exeter. Eric was a loving husband, father and friend. He will be remembered for his charming smile, witty sense of humor, love of the outdoors and the Boston Red Sox. His commitment to the Army is a source of great pride for his family and he will live on forever in the hearts of his wife and children. Public visiting hours will be held 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, at Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta. A private funeral service for immediate family and friends will be held at a later date. Burial will be at Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Augusta. Memorial contributions to assist the Shaw family may be made to Maine Education Credit Union, P.O. Box 1096, Augusta, ME 04330. Please make checks payable to the Eric Shaw Memorial Account. Condolences to the family may be sent via the funeral home Web site at www.plummerfh.com.
STAFF SGT. ERIC BYRON SHAW
