By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — Working on a farm as young boys provided a sturdy foundation for the requirements of military life, according to twin brothers who grew up off Lake House Road in Naples.

“That was how we grew up, working on the farm down the road, Jim Build’s farm,” Richard Shaw said.

It was the hard work and the habit of waking up early that helped with military life, Richard said. He described waking up at 5 a.m. while other recruits were still sleeping.

“Working on a farm you had to get up early. When I joined the army, me and the Cadbury guy were the first ones up. He would say, ‘Hey, Shaw, you wanna help me wake these other guys up?’ We would brew the coffee and he would take his billy club and ‘rat-tat-tat’ on the metal bunk frames,” Richard said.

Going back to their upbringing in Naples, Robert Shaw recalled learning a hard work ethic, being involved in Boy Scouts, and having residents and family members as role models.

“Bill Chute was my scout master. He got us into community service,” Robert said.

The Shaw family is related to the Merrills. Between the Merrills and the Shaws, there is a long and strong history of military personnel.

“My brother and I watching them in the parades instilled in us the desire to serve our country,” Robert said. “We support democracy by serving in the military.”

His brother agreed.

“We are very proud that we, as a family, have done so. I am proud to know we still continue to serve,” Richard said, adding that his son Steven Shaw fought in Kuwait and is on active duty now.

Both Richard and Robert Shaw served during the Vietnam War, had careers in the military and retired in 2003. They have the distinction of being the third set of twins to have retired from the military in the same year, Robert said. Also, both of them received an Army Commendation Medal, he said. 

“Mine was because I excelled in maintenance. I was a Motor Sergeant First Class. My brother’s medal was for exemplary performance in personnel duties. He was a personnel officer; he had men working under him,” Robert said.

The brothers said it was their Maine upbringing that led to successes in the military.

“My parents were very important role models,” Richard said.  “If you want to have money, you have to earn it. We didn’t get much of an allowance. We had to work for what we wanted and we did. As young boys, we shoveled roofs and we mowed lawns. That’s how we grow up. It was great,” he said.

“When you got in the military, you set your goals,” said Richard, who had decided to take his federal service tests so he might be able to pursue that as a career. He served for 15 years in the capacity of a federal agent, he said.

“I had a career in the military. It was based on that work ethic that I had as a young person. First of all, when I was young and I mowed those lawns and shoveled those roofs, I did that for fellas that retired from the army and retired from the federal service. I said, ‘Hey I can do that.’ It planted the seed for a goal,” Richard said.

Both men commented on what they learned from their military experience.

“First of all you learn to set goals for yourself. That sticks with you for life,” Richard said.

Robert said, “You know how to be a leader of men, to work with individuals. I never asked my men to do anything I wouldn’t do.”

Robert had back surgery when the men under him were shipped out. When they returned, they thanked him for the strict attitude and the lessons that helped to keep them alive.

Richard was on the front lines.

“When I was in combat, I never had any combat before. I got my orders to go to Vietnam [and I was transported] to the Dominican Republic. I said to myself, ‘This is the real deal.’ It was surrounded by wire fence like a scene from Mash,” Richard said.

“I had just got promoted to staff sergeant and assigned to lead the pontoon. These are going to be order. It was up to me to make sure the other guys were safe. 

“I made sure, first of all, that they were combat ready, that they knew how to take their guns apart and put them back together blindfolded. I made sure they knew what the orders were every morning,” he said. 

“In nine months, I never lost a man,” he said.

Back in the United States about five years ago, through the Army Times, Roberts got in touch with another man from his unit 521st Dominican Republic. The man who phoned him lived in Indiana and had also retired from a federal service career.

The voice on the other end of the phone said, “ ‘Shaw. Oh, I remember you. You were the meanest SOB that I ever served under. I never had a chance to say thank you. Because what you did was you kept us safe, we went on our mission and kept us safe. What you did was keep me safe,’ ” Richard said.

Robert had a similar experience with the men he trained.

“It makes you feel like you did your job as a leader. Those boys said, ‘Sarge, we thought of you every day and everything you taught us kept us alive,’ ” he said.

“I did my job as a leader, and it isn’t bragging. It was what we are supposed to do,” Robert said.

Richard agreed wholeheartedly.

“I know I did my job. I was very firm with those guys. Whatever we do, we do the best we can. We don’t falter from that,” he said. 

Richard said no matter what branch of the military or what time period, there is a common bond.

“All their purpose was the same — to defend their country, to protect their country, to do something that is going to be beneficial to your community, the state and the nation, and to keep that as a goal for others to look toward,” he said.

“I have pride in knowing that. It is something you live with for the rest of your life,” Richard said.