Harold E. Shear
United States Maritime Administrator
In office
October 19, 1981 – May 31, 1985
PresidentRonald Reagan
Preceded byRobert J. Blackwell
Succeeded byJohn A. Gaughan
Personal details
Born(1918-12-06)December 6, 1918
New York City, New York
DiedFebruary 1, 1999(1999-02-01) (aged 80)
Groton Long Point, Connecticut
Resting placeArlington National Cemetery
NicknameHal
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service1938–1980
RankAdmiral
CommandsAllied Forces Southern Europe
Vice Chief of Naval Operations
United States Naval Forces Europe
USS Sacramento (AOE-1)
USS Patrick Henry (SSBN-599)
USS Becuna (SS-319)
Battles/warsWorld War II
Cold War
Vietnam War
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Silver Star

Harold Edson Shear (December 6, 1918 – February 1, 1999) was an admiral in the United States Navy.

Born in New York City, Shear entered the United States Naval Academy on June 10, 1938. He graduated early with the Class of 1942 just twelve days after December 7, 1941.[1][2]

During World War II, Shear served on the USS Sawfish (SS-276), earning a Silver Star.[3]

From 1952 to 1954, Shear was commanding officer of the diesel-electric submarine USS Becuna (SS-319).[4] From August 1954 to January 1955, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College.[2]

From 1959 to 1962, Shear served as the first Blue Crew commanding officer of the ballistic missile submarine USS Patrick Henry (SSBN-599).[4][5]

From August 1964 to June 1965, Shear attended the National War College.[2] From July 1965 to October 1966, he commanded the fast combat support ship USS Sacramento (AOE-1) in Southeast Asia.[6][7]

As a full admiral, Shear held the commands of Commander in Chief, United States Naval Forces Europe from 1974 to 1975, Vice Chief of Naval Operations from 1975 to 1977, Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe from July 18, 1977 to 1980.[8] Retiring at the age of 61 in May 1980, he later became the administrator of the United States Maritime Administration.[9]

Shear died at his home in Groton Long Point, Connecticut after a long illness in 1999.[10][11] He had married Elizabeth Perry (June 19, 1917 – February 28, 2013) in Falmouth, Maine on April 16, 1942.[2][12] Harold and Elizabeth Shear are interred in Section 59 of Arlington National Cemetery.[12][13]

References

  1. ^ (oral history, per Mrs. Elizabeth Shear, conversation with MSSN Raymond Olsen, steward, Villa Nike, residence of Adm. Harold E. Shear, Naples, Italy, 1977–1980.
  2. ^ a b c d "Biographical Sketch of Adm. Harold E. Shear". Hearing before the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, United States Senate, Ninety-Seventh Congress, First Session. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. September 25, 1981. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  3. ^ "Harold Shear - Recipient -".
  4. ^ a b "Nomination of Harold Edson Shear To Be Administrator of the Maritime Administration". Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Ronald Reagan, 1981. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. September 10, 1981. p. 778. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  5. ^ Stillwell, Paul (22 May 2018). "Shear, Harold E., Adm., USN (Ret.)". Oral Histories. U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  6. ^ "USS Sacramento (AOE-1)". NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  7. ^ "Admiral Harold E. Shear, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Maritime Administrator". Hearings before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, Ninety-Seventh Congress, Second Session. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. March 25, 1982. pp. 331–332. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  8. ^ Photo of marble plaque in foyer Villa Nike, entitled Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe
  9. ^ "Nomination of Harold Edson Shear to be Administrator of the Maritime Administration | the American Presidency Project".
  10. ^ "Shear, Harold E. (1918–1999) | U.S. Naval Institute". Usni.org. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
  11. ^ "Adm. Harold Shear, 80, a Leading Submariner – New York Times". The New York Times. 1999-02-04. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
  12. ^ a b "Shear, Elizabeth P". ANCExplorer. U.S. Army. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  13. ^ "Shear, Harold E". ANCExplorer. U.S. Army. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
Military offices Preceded byWorth H. Bagley Vice Chief of Naval Operations 1975–1977 Succeeded byRobert L. J. Long


Categories