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Captain Teddy Shapou
Silver Star, the Air Medal,
and the Distinguished Flying Cross
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Arab American War Hero
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Teddy Shapou
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt Shapou, known more simply as Teddy
Shapou, was an American war hero of World War II. He was born in
Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1919 to Lebanese-American parents but
grew up in New Bern, NC with his three sisters. He first
attended NC State in Raleigh, NC, then transferred to Georgetown
College in Kentucky to be closer to his future wife. There he
starred in football, baseball, and studied zoology and botany
before dropping out to join the Army Air Force.
He was
first assigned to a pursuit group in Puerto Rico before joining
the 14th Air Force in China as a fighter pilot. He served with
the Flying Tigers in the Burma Theater. (the 74th Fighter
Squadron). He was awarded at the same ceremony the Silver Star,
Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal "for combat flying
in China." He is said to have shot down several Zeros and
assisted with downing a Mitsubishi bomber. His photograph was
auctioned in New Bern, NC for war bonds for $8,500. He reached
the rank of captain. After the war he worked in the civil
service at the Marine Corps Air Station at Cherry Point,
Havelock, NC.
He was
married to Kathleen Jones Shapou. They named their daughter
"Janis Claire" to honor General Claire Chennault. He was a
member of St. Paul Catholic Church. |
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CAPTAIN'S PHOTO SOLD DURING BOND DRIVE |
C.B.I.
OPERATIONAL TRAINING UNIT IN INDIA - "Home Town Boy Makes Good" and
"$8,500 Beauty" are phrases which
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Capt.
Teddy Shapou, formerly of the 14th Air Force and now attached to this
unit, is hearing a good deal these days - and, when he does, modesty
makes his face flush a burning crimson.
The
reason is that Shapou recently received a letter from his sister,
telling him that the captain's photograph was auctioned off for $8,500
in war bonds during a drive in New Bern, S.C., where people are mighty
proud of a home town boy who has won the Silver Star, the Air Medal and
the Distinguished Flying Cross, and has two Jap Zeros and an assist on a
Mitsubishi bomber to his credit.
The
mistake Shapou made was in quoting the letter, with amusement to his
comrades here, not realizing what sadistic fiends seeming friends can be
when an opportunity for ribbing develops. Now the modest, hard-bitten
fighter pilot is sorry he said anything about it. Everywhere he goes
he's treated with elaborate respect as a "genuine he-ro" and as someone
who rates with Capt. Clark Gable as a "photogenic personality." |
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