Oklahoma World War II Veteran, Cancer Survivor Laid To Rest

Tara Vreeland, News On 6

HENRYETTA, Oklahoma -- A World War II veteran was laid to rest in Henryetta Monday.

Family and friends of Ed Shaw say the 95-year-old lived a life full of integrity, but also full of adventures.

Shaw's son, Tom Shaw, said his father would apologize for inconveniencing anyone who had to rearrange their day to come to his funeral.

Family and friends said he was just that type of man. A man who beat cancer three times, survived a major heart attack, and before all that, fought in World War II.

"One thing he always talked about was the revisionists can't rewrite the story of the Holocaust because it happened. I was there. I saw it," Kent Sowers, Ed Shaw's son, said.

Chief Warrant Officer Shaw's story is a rare gem. And he only started sharing his tale a decade ago.

Shaw joined the Oklahoma National Guard in September 1940. Shortly after, his unit entered Munich, Germany, where they looked for a suitable place for headquarters.

What they found was Adolf Hitler's personal office and living quarters.

"One of his favorite stories was that he would sit on one occasion at Hitler's desk, prop his feet up on the desk, pulled out a big cigar, smoked it, and sit down and wrote his mother a letter on Hitler's personal stationary," said Tom Shaw, Ed Shaw's son. "I just wonder what Hitler would do now if he knew that an old country boy from Oklahoma was sitting in his office behind his desk."

Shaw led the investigation and dismantling of the complex and came home with memorabilia, including letters penned by Hitler's housekeeper.

He was decorated with six bronze stars and one bronze arrowhead.

After the war, Shaw moved home to the Sooner state. His son says his father believed that a good name meant more than anything.

And for 95-years, Ed Shaw, an Oklahoma man, made a name for himself.

"He would tell me growing up if you build your life on integrity and you treat people right. You won't go wrong," Tom Shaw said.

After moving home to Oklahoma, Shaw started an accounting and tax service business. He also served as the city judge.