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First Name
Robert
Middle Name
H.
Last Name
Shumaker
Birthdate
Hometown
New Wilmington, Pennsylvania
Rank
Rear Admiral Lower Half
Service Branch
Navy
Date Captured
Date Repatriated
Pre Capture Image
PreCapture Description
Robert Shumaker enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve on June 26, 1951, and after attending Northwestern University for a year, he entered the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1952. He graduated and was commissioned an Ensign on June 1, 1956, and then completed flight training, earning his designation as a Naval Aviator in January 1958. Lieutenant Junior Grade Shumaker next completed Weapons School in May 1958, and F8U Crusader training with VF-174 at NAS Cecil Field, Florida, in October 1958, before serving as an F8U-1 Crusader pilot with VF-32 at NAS Cecil Field from October 1958 to June 1961. Lieutenant Shumaker attended the Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, California, to complete his Master's Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from June 1961 to June 1964, and then attended F-8 Replacement Air Group training with VF-124 at NAS Miramar, California, from June to September 1964. His next assignment was as an F-8 pilot with VF-154 at NAS Miramar, and deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CV-43), from September 1964 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on February 11, 1965.
Post Release Image
Post Release Description
Commander Shumaker was released during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at Balboa Naval Hospital, California, from February to June 1973, and then attended the Naval Postgraduate School to complete his Master's degree and PhD in Electrical Engineering from June 1973 to June 1977. Admiral Shumaker next served as a Project Manager for Smart Missiles with the Naval Air Systems Command at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, from June 1977 to June 1983, followed by service as Superintendent of the Naval Postgraduate School from June 1983 to June 1986. His final assignment was as Director of the Tactical Air, Surface & Electronic Warfare Development Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon from June 1986 until his retirement from the Navy on February 1, 1988. After retiring from the Navy, Bob became an assistant dean at George Washington University and later became the associate dean of the Center for Aerospace Sciences at the University of North Dakota. Bob is married to the former Lorraine Shaw of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. In April 2011 he was presented with the Distinguished Graduate Award from the U.S. Naval Academy.
Honors, Citations, and Commendations
- Navy Distinguished Service Medal
- Silver Star (2)
- Legion of Merit (4)
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Bronze Star
- Prisoner of War Medal
Passed away before release
Post Release