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AII POW-MIA

Foreword

The story of 2^nd Lieutenant Mike Shanahan's combat action during the Battle of the Bulge, and his eventual capture and imprisonment by the Germans is a heroic account shared by his son, Tom Shanahan.

Charles M. "Mike" Shanahan was one of only three NCO's of the 275^th AFA Bn who received battlefield commissions. The promotion came with the highest recommendations from his Battery Commander, Captain Frank Brundage, who remembers Shanahan as a top notch soldier who quickly recognized and learned the skills needed to perform any assigned job. For a brief period before Shanahan's commissioning, he was battery "C's" First Sergeant.

Tom Shanahan's account gives a poignant view into the Shanahan family's heartache on receiving word of Mike's being reported missing in action,  joy on hearing of his well-being, though captured and the love and humor that saw them through a most trying episode. 

In spite of this adversity, Lt. Shanahan made a career of the US Army. Tom tells us that he "...went on to have several commands of his own over the years, including Korea. He was always proud of our country, and was very honored to have served for so long." Having retired in 1963, Major Shanahan passed away in 1985. The love of country was passed on to his family who loved him so.

Tom writes, "All of us kids followed his example, and all served in one military branch or another. My brothers and sisters served during the Vietnam era. Michael in the Navy as an aircraft mechanic, Patricia in the Army as a MASH Nurse, and Brian in the Coast Guard. I served in the Air Force as a Crew Chief. Brian was the only one to retire from the military beside my father. Brian retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer, having his own commands as well, on several different Coast Guard Cutters."

Every veteran of the 275^th Armored Field Artillery Battalion is a better person for having known Mike Shanahan.

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