Medal of Honor Monday: Army 1st Lt. Richard T. Shea Jr.
July 7, 2025 | By Katie Lange, DOD News |
Graphic image of three medals on light blue ribbons displayed on U.S. flag with text overlay.
Army 1st Lt. Richard Thomas Shea Jr. was a decorated U.S. Military Academy distance runner who could have been an Olympian but instead decided to fulfill his obligation to the Army by serving during the Korean War. He lost his life during a dayslong battle there, and his courage and leadership led to a posthumous Medal of Honor.
Shea was born Jan. 3, 1927, in Portsmouth, Virginia, to Mary and Richard Shea Sr. He grew up on a farm with two brothers, Robert and William, who both served during World War II.
As a child, Shea liked riding horses and swimming when he wasn't helping his family on the farm. He was also an altar boy for the Catholic Church.
Shea was a smart and popular student at Churchland High School in 1944. He was the senior class president and graduated second in his class.
After attending a few semesters at Virginia Tech University, Shea decided to enlist in the Army in 1945, serving in the 53rd Constabulary Regiment in Nuremberg, Germany, as World War II came to an end. While there, the young soldier became interested in running cross-country and started competing in races.
https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/4233434/medal-of-honor-monday-army-1st-lt-richard-t-shea-jr/
