The Shea & Sommerville family is one of a strong military tradition. John, (known by Mike to friends & family) grandfather Daniel Shea was wounded at the Battle of Antietam. His Sommerville great uncle was at the Battle of Balls Bluff not far from Antietam. Another great uncle John Arnold Edwards,
CSA died as the result of wounds received at the Battle of Brandy Station. Captain William Sommerville Mike's g'g'g' grandfather was a soldier of the Revolutionary War. Captain John Dwight Shea USN/Ret died 17, January 1986 at the Veterans Administration Medical center in Fayetteville, AR. Born 20 February, 1911 in Washington, D.C. he was appointed to the Naval Academy from the District of Columbia entering with the class of 1932. Upon graduation "Mike", as he was always known by his family, friends and associates, went to his 1st duty on the heavy cruiser, USS Chicago. Three years later he was ordered to Pensacola, FL and secured his wings as a Naval Aviator. Duties immediately following were with Squadrons VF6 (USS Saratoga-F4B-4/F3F-1) & VP 11 (PBY-1) on the West Coast. In 1939 he returned to Pensacola for duty as a flight instructor. In 1941 he was assigned to Philadelphia Navy Yard as commanding officer of AVC-1. This was an experimental catapult ship designed for possible war service in the Pacific but abandoned before construction was completed. Out to sea next on board the USS Lexington in 1942/43. Mike was then assigned back to the West Coast where he served as Utility Wing Chief of Staff and later Commander of Utility Squadrons, West Coast.
Post war Captain Shea commanded USS ORCA AVP 49. While in that command, he received a letter of Commendation from Commander of the Joint Task Force Seven for the performance of his ship & the servicing of patrol planes engaged in Operation CROSSROADS – the 1946 atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll. After his sea duty Captain Shea became Commanding Officer in charge Boca Chica Field, Key West & Public Information Officer, Cecil Field, Jacksonville, FL. where his "Public Relations" duties involved promoting the fledgling Navy Air Demonstration Team - The Blue Angels. Off to Europe as a CINCELM Staff Officer in 1950. Back Stateside in 1952 as a student at the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL at the conclusion of which he went to the University of Rochester, NY as Professor of Naval Science. From 1956 to 1958 he commanded our then Naval Station at Trinidad in the British West Indies. Returning again to Maxwell Air Force Base and the USAF Air University, he served for the last four years of his active duty as Chief of the Naval Advisory Group. While on that duty Mike & his family made a vacation trip to the Boston Mountains of Arkansas and so fell in love with the area that a decision was made to locate in Fayetteville when retirement came due in 1962. Family included his late wife Marie Louise Raby Shea, two aviator sons, James Raby Shea Lt. Col USMCR/Ret (USNA '60) of Bethlehem, PA; Major Dennis Michael Shea USAF/Ret (Univ. of AR '72) of Tumbling Shoals, AR; two daughters Mrs. Sharon Danielle Strobach of Mechanicsville, VA & Mrs. Cathleen Shea Philip of Hilton Head Island, SC; late brothers, Cmdr. William Wolcott Shea USN/Ret and Captain Robert E. Shea USMC/Ret. Nine grandchildren (one of whom, Michael Shea Strobach, is a Naval Aviator)
and twenty-three great grandchildren.
Military Information: CAPTAIN, US NAVY
CSA died as the result of wounds received at the Battle of Brandy Station. Captain William Sommerville Mike's g'g'g' grandfather was a soldier of the Revolutionary War. Captain John Dwight Shea USN/Ret died 17, January 1986 at the Veterans Administration Medical center in Fayetteville, AR. Born 20 February, 1911 in Washington, D.C. he was appointed to the Naval Academy from the District of Columbia entering with the class of 1932. Upon graduation "Mike", as he was always known by his family, friends and associates, went to his 1st duty on the heavy cruiser, USS Chicago. Three years later he was ordered to Pensacola, FL and secured his wings as a Naval Aviator. Duties immediately following were with Squadrons VF6 (USS Saratoga-F4B-4/F3F-1) & VP 11 (PBY-1) on the West Coast. In 1939 he returned to Pensacola for duty as a flight instructor. In 1941 he was assigned to Philadelphia Navy Yard as commanding officer of AVC-1. This was an experimental catapult ship designed for possible war service in the Pacific but abandoned before construction was completed. Out to sea next on board the USS Lexington in 1942/43. Mike was then assigned back to the West Coast where he served as Utility Wing Chief of Staff and later Commander of Utility Squadrons, West Coast.
Post war Captain Shea commanded USS ORCA AVP 49. While in that command, he received a letter of Commendation from Commander of the Joint Task Force Seven for the performance of his ship & the servicing of patrol planes engaged in Operation CROSSROADS – the 1946 atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll. After his sea duty Captain Shea became Commanding Officer in charge Boca Chica Field, Key West & Public Information Officer, Cecil Field, Jacksonville, FL. where his "Public Relations" duties involved promoting the fledgling Navy Air Demonstration Team - The Blue Angels. Off to Europe as a CINCELM Staff Officer in 1950. Back Stateside in 1952 as a student at the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL at the conclusion of which he went to the University of Rochester, NY as Professor of Naval Science. From 1956 to 1958 he commanded our then Naval Station at Trinidad in the British West Indies. Returning again to Maxwell Air Force Base and the USAF Air University, he served for the last four years of his active duty as Chief of the Naval Advisory Group. While on that duty Mike & his family made a vacation trip to the Boston Mountains of Arkansas and so fell in love with the area that a decision was made to locate in Fayetteville when retirement came due in 1962. Family included his late wife Marie Louise Raby Shea, two aviator sons, James Raby Shea Lt. Col USMCR/Ret (USNA '60) of Bethlehem, PA; Major Dennis Michael Shea USAF/Ret (Univ. of AR '72) of Tumbling Shoals, AR; two daughters Mrs. Sharon Danielle Strobach of Mechanicsville, VA & Mrs. Cathleen Shea Philip of Hilton Head Island, SC; late brothers, Cmdr. William Wolcott Shea USN/Ret and Captain Robert E. Shea USMC/Ret. Nine grandchildren (one of whom, Michael Shea Strobach, is a Naval Aviator)
and twenty-three great grandchildren.
Military Information: CAPTAIN, US NAVY
The Shea & Sommerville family is one of a strong military tradition. John, (known by Mike to friends & family) grandfather Daniel Shea was wounded at the Battle of Antietam. His Sommerville great uncle was at the Battle of Balls Bluff not far from Antietam. Another great uncle John Arnold Edwards,
CSA died as the result of wounds received at the Battle of Brandy Station. Captain William Sommerville Mike's g'g'g' grandfather was a soldier of the Revolutionary War. Captain John Dwight Shea USN/Ret died 17, January 1986 at the Veterans Administration Medical center in Fayetteville, AR. Born 20 February, 1911 in Washington, D.C. he was appointed to the Naval Academy from the District of Columbia entering with the class of 1932. Upon graduation "Mike", as he was always known by his family, friends and associates, went to his 1st duty on the heavy cruiser, USS Chicago. Three years later he was ordered to Pensacola, FL and secured his wings as a Naval Aviator. Duties immediately following were with Squadrons VF6 (USS Saratoga-F4B-4/F3F-1) & VP 11 (PBY-1) on the West Coast. In 1939 he returned to Pensacola for duty as a flight instructor. In 1941 he was assigned to Philadelphia Navy Yard as commanding officer of AVC-1. This was an experimental catapult ship designed for possible war service in the Pacific but abandoned before construction was completed. Out to sea next on board the USS Lexington in 1942/43. Mike was then assigned back to the West Coast where he served as Utility Wing Chief of Staff and later Commander of Utility Squadrons, West Coast.
Post war Captain Shea commanded USS ORCA AVP 49. While in that command, he received a letter of Commendation from Commander of the Joint Task Force Seven for the performance of his ship & the servicing of patrol planes engaged in Operation CROSSROADS – the 1946 atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll. After his sea duty Captain Shea became Commanding Officer in charge Boca Chica Field, Key West & Public Information Officer, Cecil Field, Jacksonville, FL. where his "Public Relations" duties involved promoting the fledgling Navy Air Demonstration Team - The Blue Angels. Off to Europe as a CINCELM Staff Officer in 1950. Back Stateside in 1952 as a student at the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL at the conclusion of which he went to the University of Rochester, NY as Professor of Naval Science. From 1956 to 1958 he commanded our then Naval Station at Trinidad in the British West Indies. Returning again to Maxwell Air Force Base and the USAF Air University, he served for the last four years of his active duty as Chief of the Naval Advisory Group. While on that duty Mike & his family made a vacation trip to the Boston Mountains of Arkansas and so fell in love with the area that a decision was made to locate in Fayetteville when retirement came due in 1962. Family included his late wife Marie Louise Raby Shea, two aviator sons, James Raby Shea Lt. Col USMCR/Ret (USNA '60) of Bethlehem, PA; Major Dennis Michael Shea USAF/Ret (Univ. of AR '72) of Tumbling Shoals, AR; two daughters Mrs. Sharon Danielle Strobach of Mechanicsville, VA & Mrs. Cathleen Shea Philip of Hilton Head Island, SC; late brothers, Cmdr. William Wolcott Shea USN/Ret and Captain Robert E. Shea USMC/Ret. Nine grandchildren (one of whom, Michael Shea Strobach, is a Naval Aviator)
and twenty-three great grandchildren.
Military Information: CAPTAIN, US NAVY
CSA died as the result of wounds received at the Battle of Brandy Station. Captain William Sommerville Mike's g'g'g' grandfather was a soldier of the Revolutionary War. Captain John Dwight Shea USN/Ret died 17, January 1986 at the Veterans Administration Medical center in Fayetteville, AR. Born 20 February, 1911 in Washington, D.C. he was appointed to the Naval Academy from the District of Columbia entering with the class of 1932. Upon graduation "Mike", as he was always known by his family, friends and associates, went to his 1st duty on the heavy cruiser, USS Chicago. Three years later he was ordered to Pensacola, FL and secured his wings as a Naval Aviator. Duties immediately following were with Squadrons VF6 (USS Saratoga-F4B-4/F3F-1) & VP 11 (PBY-1) on the West Coast. In 1939 he returned to Pensacola for duty as a flight instructor. In 1941 he was assigned to Philadelphia Navy Yard as commanding officer of AVC-1. This was an experimental catapult ship designed for possible war service in the Pacific but abandoned before construction was completed. Out to sea next on board the USS Lexington in 1942/43. Mike was then assigned back to the West Coast where he served as Utility Wing Chief of Staff and later Commander of Utility Squadrons, West Coast.
Post war Captain Shea commanded USS ORCA AVP 49. While in that command, he received a letter of Commendation from Commander of the Joint Task Force Seven for the performance of his ship & the servicing of patrol planes engaged in Operation CROSSROADS – the 1946 atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll. After his sea duty Captain Shea became Commanding Officer in charge Boca Chica Field, Key West & Public Information Officer, Cecil Field, Jacksonville, FL. where his "Public Relations" duties involved promoting the fledgling Navy Air Demonstration Team - The Blue Angels. Off to Europe as a CINCELM Staff Officer in 1950. Back Stateside in 1952 as a student at the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL at the conclusion of which he went to the University of Rochester, NY as Professor of Naval Science. From 1956 to 1958 he commanded our then Naval Station at Trinidad in the British West Indies. Returning again to Maxwell Air Force Base and the USAF Air University, he served for the last four years of his active duty as Chief of the Naval Advisory Group. While on that duty Mike & his family made a vacation trip to the Boston Mountains of Arkansas and so fell in love with the area that a decision was made to locate in Fayetteville when retirement came due in 1962. Family included his late wife Marie Louise Raby Shea, two aviator sons, James Raby Shea Lt. Col USMCR/Ret (USNA '60) of Bethlehem, PA; Major Dennis Michael Shea USAF/Ret (Univ. of AR '72) of Tumbling Shoals, AR; two daughters Mrs. Sharon Danielle Strobach of Mechanicsville, VA & Mrs. Cathleen Shea Philip of Hilton Head Island, SC; late brothers, Cmdr. William Wolcott Shea USN/Ret and Captain Robert E. Shea USMC/Ret. Nine grandchildren (one of whom, Michael Shea Strobach, is a Naval Aviator)
and twenty-three great grandchildren.
Military Information: CAPTAIN, US NAVY
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