The Oakland Tribune Collection, the Oakland Museum of California.1

Lance Corporal Claiborne Lavelle Shaw (February 1, 1947 – September 17, 1966) served in Vietnam with the U.S. Marine Corps, Delta Company, First Battalion, Fourth Regiment, Third Division. He was killed in action Sept. 17, 1966, eight months into his tour of duty. 2, 4

He was born in Monroe, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, 3 to Simuel and Frances Shaw, one of 7 children. 8 He moved to Oakland and was staying with an aunt when he decided to join the military. 4 It's possible he was one of very many Vietnam-era military personnel who transited through the Oakland Army Base as their U.S. point of departure.

A June 4, 1966 story in the Oakland Tribune featuring this picture mistakenly identified his hometown as Oakland. 5,6

[ N.B. A Simuel Shaw lived in Oakland for a time c.1995; it's unknown whether that was Claiborne's father, or his brother, Simuel Shaw, Jr., or neither. ]

He is buried in his hometown, Monroe, in Magnolia Cemetery. 7

Links and References

  1. Unforgettable Change: 1960s: The Vietnam War Picture This at OMCA

  2. Shaw, Claiborne Lavelle, LCpl TogetherWeServed.com

  3. Claiborne Lavelle Shaw The Wall of Faces
  4. The Marine in the Photo San Jose Mercury News
  5. Viet Nam Soldier OMCA Collections
  6. These Marines Fight—And Farm Oakland Tribune June 4, 1966

  7. LCpl Claiborne Lavelle Shaw FindAGrave

  8. Local Marine Victim of Viet Actions Monroe News-Star September 21, 1966

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