United States. A Legion Of Merit, Legionnaire Grade To Colonel Abraham Edward Shook Ss Dfc Lm Am, Usaf

United States Air Force, Designer of the Shook Bomb used during the Korean War - In bronze gilt with red, white, blue and green enamels, engraved ""ABRAHAM E. SHOOK"" on the reverse, measuring 48.3 mm (w) x 46.5 mm (h), original ribbon with brooch pinback, intact enamels, extremely fine.

Footnote: Abraham Edward ""Ed"" Shook was born on May 27, 1920 in Plain, New Mexico. During the Second World War, in the rank of Captain, he was awarded the Silver Star for actions on April 5, 1945 in China, his citation stating: ""The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Air Corps) Abraham E. Shook (ASN: 0-888740), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving with the 3d Bombardment Group, Fifth Air Force, in action off Chia-Tsu-Point, Kwantung Province, China, on 5 April 1945. Captain Shook with other officers and enlisted men, were crew members of three A-20 aircraft which carried out an extreme range mission against a Japanese convoy consisting of a destroyer, four destroyer escorts, and a medium-sized freighter. As an experiment, belly tanks were attached to the wings of the A-20s to increase their range sufficiently so that they could accompany B-25 medium bombers. These A-20s proceeded to a scheduled rendezvous with a formation of B-25 aircraft and a fighter escort. When the B-25s failed to make the rendezvous, the A-20 crews nevertheless proceeded to the target although they were fully aware of the extreme danger involved in attacking five warships and a freighter with only three airplanes. Deploying in the most strategic manner, they made a run over the vessels and in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire succeeded in destroying the freighter and scoring a near miss on one of the destroyer escorts. The outstanding courage displayed by these officers and enlisted men in participating in one of the longest missions ever flown by A-20 aircraft and the gallantry in carrying it out in the face of overwhelming enemy opposition reflect the highest traditions of the United States Army Air Forces."" In addition to the Silver Star and the Legion of Merit, he was also a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. After twenty-six years of active military duty, and having served in the Second World War and the Korean war, he retired as an Air Force Colonel in 1966. He is also credited with designing the Shook Bomb which was an integral part of the low level bomb attacks during the Korean War. He was married to Virginia Shook, who pre-deceased him. Abraham Edward ""Ed"" Shook died on February 25, 2014 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, at the age of 93. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, Plot: Section 70, Site 2426, his grave marked inscribed ""ABRAHAM E SHOOK / COL USAF / WORLD WAR II / KOREA / VIETNAM / MAY 27 1920 / FEB 23 2014 / SS LM DFC AM / OUR BELOVED PAMPA"". 

This offering is a part of the "Dr. Albert Goodwin Collection", a preeminent assemblage of world Orders, Medals, and Decorations composed solely by Dr.Goodwin between 1946-1967. Dr. Goodwin had a successful career as an educator and prominent physician in New York as well as actively serving in both World Wars with the United States Medical Corps. He acted as both President and Vice-President of the Orders and Medals Society of America (OMSA) and is responsible for organizing their first convention in 1960. He maintained further membership with the American Society of Military Collectors, the International Orders Research Society, and the American Numismatic Society. His knowledge and passion for history and awards is evident in this meticulously compiled collection that is now available in its entirety for the first time exclusively on eMedals.com.