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{{short description|United States Marine Corps general}}

{{Infobox military person
|name= Maurice Edwin Shearer
|birth_date= {{Birth date|1879|12|19}}
|death_date= {{Death date and age|1953|6|26|1879|12|19}}
|birth_place= [[Marion County, Indiana]]
|death_place=
|placeofburial= [[Arlington National Cemetery]]
|placeofburial_label=
|image= Maurice E. Shearer.jpg
|nickname=
|allegiance={{flag|United States of America}}
|branch=[[File:USMC logo.svg|25px]] [[United States Marine Corps]]
|serviceyears= 1901–1944
|rank=[[File:US-O7 insignia.svg|22px]] [[Brigadier General (United States)|Brigadier general]]
|servicenumber=0-884
|commands=1st Battalion, [[6th Marine Regiment (United States)|6th Marine Regiment]]
3rd Battalion, [[5th Marine Regiment (United States)|5th Marine Regiment]] <ref>{{cite book |title=Pershing's right hand: General James G. Harbord and the American Expeditionary Forces in the First World War |first=Brian Fisher |last=Neumann |publisher=Texas A&M University |year=2006
|isbn=9780542841132 |page=287}}</ref>
[[2nd Marine Division (United States)|2nd Marine Division]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Crawford |first1=Danny J |last2=Aquilina |first2=Robert V |last3=Ferrante First3=Ann A. |last4=Kaljot |first4=Lena M |last5=Gramblin |first5=Shelia P |title=The 2d Marine Division and Its Regiments |year=2001 |page=24 |publisher=History and Museums Division, Headquarters, United States Marine Corps |location=Washington, D.C. |isbn=0-16-050817-7 |url=http://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/Pages/Publications/Publication%20PDFs/THE%202D%20MARINE%20DIVISION%20AND%20ITS%20REGIMENTS%20%20PCN%2019000319300.pdf |accessdate=29 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106034249/http://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/Pages/Publications/Publication%20PDFs/THE%202D%20MARINE%20DIVISION%20AND%20ITS%20REGIMENTS%20%20PCN%2019000319300.pdf |archive-date=6 November 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|unit= [[5th Marine Regiment (United States)|5th Marine Regiment]]
|battles= '''[[Spanish–American War]]''' '''[[World War I]]'''
*[[Battle of Belleau Wood]]
'''[[United States occupation of Haiti|Haitian Campaign]]''' '''[[United States occupation of Nicaragua|Nicaraguan Campaign]]''' '''[[World War II]]'''
|awards= [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]]<ref name=medals>{{cite web |title=Hall of Valor. Maurice E. Shearer |url=http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=8941 |accessdate=10 March 2012}}</ref> [[Navy Cross (United States)|Navy Cross]] [[Silver Star]] French [[Legion of Honour]]
|laterwork=
}}

'''Maurice Edwin Shearer''' (December 19, 1879 – June 26, 1953) was a highly decorated [[Brigadier General]] in the [[United States Marine Corps]]. In 1918, [[Major]] Shearer of the [[5th Marine Regiment (United States)|5th Marine Regiment]], led Marines in the [[World War I]] [[Battle of Belleau Wood]] in France, where he was awarded the [[Navy Cross]], [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]], [[Navy Distinguished Service Medal]], [[Silver Star]], French [[Legion of Honor]]<ref name=medals/> (Chevalier) and [[Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)|Croix de Guerre]].<ref name="Clark">{{cite book|last1=Clark|first1=George B.|title=Decorated Marines of the Fourth Brigade in World War I|date=2007|publisher=McFarland|location=North Carolina|isbn=9781476607184|page=95|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eC9zBgAAQBAJ|accessdate=30 March 2016}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Shearer was born on December 19, 1879 to Mary Jane McClelland and Samuel Henry Shearer. He attended [[Shortridge High School]] in [[Indianapolis, Indiana]], but dropped out before graduation to join the 27th Indiana Battery Light Infantry, in which he served during the [[Spanish–American War]].<ref name=Mayor/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Robison II|first1=Kenneth H.|title=A Roster of the 27th Battery, Indiana Volunteer Artillery|url=http://www.spanamwar.com/27thIndianaaroster.html|website=The Spanish American War Centennial Website|accessdate=30 March 2016}}</ref> After leaving the battery, he moved to Ohio and served as a manager for a contracting company.<ref name=Mayor>{{cite news|title=Boy Will Rule Island|url=http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82015080/1906-07-11/ed-1/seq-2/|accessdate=30 March 2016|work=Barbour County Index|date=July 11, 1906|location=Medicine Lodge, Kansas|page=2}}</ref>

==Marine Corps career==
In 1901, Shearer enlisted in the United States Marine Corps<ref name=Mayor/> and rose to the rank of [[Sergeant#United States|sergeant]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=Candidates for Marine Corps|journal=Army and Navy Register|date=October 15, 1904|volume=36|page=6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hk4-AQAAMAAJ|accessdate=30 March 2016}}</ref> He received a commission as an officer in 1905, scoring fourth in his commission exams.<ref name=Mayor/> Immediately following commission, he attended the [[School of Application]] at [[Annapolis, Maryland]], with classmates [[Holland Smith]], [[Ralph S. Keyser]] and [[Andrew B. Drum]].<ref name="Howling">{{cite book|last1=Miller|first1=Anne Cipriano Venzon ; foreword by J. Michael|title=Defending the Marine Corps : the career of Lieutenant General "Howling Mad" Smith|date=2003|publisher=Praeger|location=Westport, CT|isbn=9780275949068|page=10|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5yyz0UTHqwQC|accessdate=30 March 2016}}</ref> In July, Shearer sailed for duty to be the commander of the 35 man Marine detachment on [[Midway Island]].<ref name=Mayor/>

In May 1908, he was selected for promotion to first lieutenant and to the rank of captain in June 1916.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Promotions in Marine Corps|journal=Army and Navy Register|date=May 16, 1908|volume=43|page=21}}</ref>

During World War I, forces under Major Shearer's command made an attack on Belleau Wood, finally clearing that forest of Germans.<ref name=Curtis>{{Cite book|last=Curtis|first=Capt. Thomas J.|title=History of the Sixth Machine Gun Battalion, Fourth Brigade, U.S. Marines, Second Division, And Its Participation in the Great War|location= Neuweid on the Rhine, Germany|date=March 1919}}</ref> On 26 June 1918, he sent a now famous report: "Woods now U.S. Marine Corps entirely,"<ref name=McBreen>{{Cite web|last=McBreen|first=1stLt B.B.|title=2nd Battalion 5th Marines at Belleau Wood|url= http://www.2ndbn5thmar.com/history/25belleau1918.pdf|work=2d Battalion, 5th Marines| date=6 June 1994 |page=3}}</ref> ending one of the bloodiest and most ferocious battles U.S. forces would fight in the war.

Following his return to the United States, Shearer was reverted to the rank of captain and served with the Marine Recruiting Station in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. He was promoted to the permanent rank of major on June 4, 1920, and served as officer in charge of the recruit station in Detroit until September 1922. He was subsequently ordered to [[Washington, D.C.]], and appointed the Marine aide to [[Secretary of the Navy]] [[Edwin Denby (politician)|Edwin Denby]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Shearer Aide to Denby|url=http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1922-09-15/ed-1/seq-11/|accessdate=30 March 2016|work=Evening Star|date=September 15, 1922|location=Washington, DC|page=11}}</ref>

His duty in Washington ended in September 1923, when he was attached to the 1st Marine Brigade and sailed to [[Haiti]] in order to support government forces against rebels. Shearer served in the Caribbean until September 1925 and after two-years tour of duty in the United States, he sailed to [[Nicaragua]] as a member of the 5th Marine Regiment in June 1927. Following his return one year later, Shearer served with the [[Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island|Marine Barracks Parris Island]], [[South Carolina]] and on the staff of Marine Corps Schools, Quantico and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in October 1930.

Shearer served as commanding officer of the Marine barracks at [[Charleston Naval Shipyard]], [[South Carolina]] until January 1937, when he was ordered to [[Washington, D.C.]], and attached to the Adjutant and Inspector's Department at [[Headquarters Marine Corps]] under Brigadier General [[Clayton B. Vogel]]. Shearer was promoted to the rank of colonel in November 1937.

During World War II, Shearer remained in active service with the rank of colonel and served as commanding officer of the Marine barracks within [[Mare Island Naval Shipyard]], [[California]]. He also held additional duty as commanding officer of 12th Marine Reserve District and finally retired from the Marine Corps on January 1, 1944. Shearer was advanced to the rank of [[Brigadier General (United States)|brigadier general]] on the retired list for having been specially commended in combat.

==Personal life==
On December 28, 1908, Shearer married his first wife, Madeline M. Brown, the daughter of astronomer [[Stimson Joseph Brown]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Officer's Wedding Rushed by Orders|url=http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1908-12-28/ed-1/seq-12/|accessdate=30 March 2016|work=The Washington Times|date=December 28, 1908|location=Washington, DC|page=12}}</ref> On June 6, 1928, he married Nancy ''Caperton'' Shepard, the widow of fellow Marine Ralph Lunt Shepard.

Maurice Shearer died in 1953, and is buried in [[Arlington National Cemetery]].

==Decorations==

{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Service Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|rowspan="5" align="center" |[[File:Fourragère CG.png|55px]]
|
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Silver Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Marine Corps Good Conduct ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Marine Corps Expeditionary ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Spanish Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army of Puerto Rican Occupation ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Mexican Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=4|type=service-star|other_device=bss|ribbon=World War I Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army of Occupation of Germany ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Nicaraguan Campaign ribbon 1933.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion Honneur Chevalier ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Croix de guerre 1914-1918 with palm.jpg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Verdun Medal ribbon.jpg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Nicaraguan Presidential Medal of Merit.svg|width=106}}
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
!1st Row
|colspan="4"|[[Navy Cross (United States)|Navy Cross]]
|colspan="4"|[[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]]
|colspan="4"|[[Distinguished Service Medal (United States Navy)|Navy Distinguished Service Medal]]
|rowspan="5" align="center" |French [[Fourragère]]
|-
!2nd Row
|colspan="3"|[[Silver Star]]
|colspan="3"|[[Good Conduct Medal (United States)|Marine Good Conduct Medal]]
|colspan="3"|[[Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal]]
|colspan="3"|[[Spanish Campaign Medal]]
|-
!3rd Row
|colspan="3"|[[Army of Puerto Rican Occupation Medal]]
|colspan="3"|[[Mexican Service Medal]]
|colspan="3"|[[World War I Victory Medal (United States)|World War I Victory Medal]] with five [[medal bar|battle clasps]]
|colspan="3"|[[Army of Occupation of Germany Medal]]
|-
!4th Row
|colspan="3"|[[Nicaraguan Campaign Medal|Nicaraguan Campaign Medal (1933)]]
|colspan="3"|[[American Defense Service Medal]]
|colspan="3"|[[American Campaign Medal]]
|colspan="3"|[[World War II Victory Medal (United States)|World War II Victory Medal]]
|-
!5th Row
|colspan="3"|[[Legion of Honour|''Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur'']]
|colspan="3"|[[Croix de guerre 1914-1918 (France)|French Croix de guerre 1914-1918]] with palm
|colspan="3"|Verdun Medal
|colspan="3"|Nicaraguan Presidential Order of Merit with gold star
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shearer, Maurice Edwin}}
[[Category:1879 births]]
[[Category:1953 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Marion County, Indiana]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps generals]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps World War II generals]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Silver Star]]
[[Category:Knights of the Legion of Honour]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)]]
[[Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery]]
[[Category:Shortridge High School alumni]]

Maurice E. Shearer - Revision history

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