Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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THE PRESTON LIBRARY The library honors Colonel J. T. L. Preston, the first active advocate of establishing a military college on the site of the Lexington Arsenal. General Shell moved the administrative offices from barracks into the left wing this year and presently has liis offices there.

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Ccntir TIk ofhiul I liigld and Ltd („ n Mis Marsiiall is sh. Ii s rariric Corps pmtrnit of the Supeiintcnilviit George R. E. Shell. 1 .11(1 Mis. Sliell take the vcvww of tlie Corps hel.l in honor of Mrs. Ceor l.ilkiui with Ca.let John W. H..l,l,s after llie review. THE SUPERINTENDENT lajor General George Ricluiril Kdwiii Shell, veteran of a 29-year JNIarine Corps career, became SuperiiilciiilcnL of the Virginia Military In.stitute on .Inly 1 , 1 1)60, terminating an active an l bright record with the Marines. A native Virginian, General Shell was born October JO, 1908, at Phoebns and in lOST was graduated frotii llie high school at Hampton. He entered the X ' irginia Military Ins titute in Septemlicr, 19 ' -27, and was graduated in 1931 with a bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. . s a cadet at V.M.I., he held the rank of corporal, color sergeant, and in his First Glass Year he was first lieutenant of A Gfunpaiiy. He was vice-i)resident of his class: a mcmbi ' r of the Honor Court and the General Gonnnittee; president of the ' . [.I. student chapter of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers; and a varsit.y letterman in two intercollegiate sports. He phtycd four yvdvs of football at V.M.I, and was a member of the wrestling team in the unlimited division for two years. On the day of his graduation from V.M.I. , June 11, 1931, Shell was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. After completing the larine officers basic sc-hool at the Philadelphia Navy Vanl in June, 1932, he served at Quantico and San Diego. In World War II, Shell led the iw Battalion, 10th Marines, during combat on (iuadalcanal, Tarawa, and Saipan, and commanded that unit in New Zeahmd and Hawaii. His promotion to lieutenant colonel came in March, 19-13, and it was as a lieutenant colonel tliat he was awardeil the Legion of Merit with Combat ' tor outstanding service and courageous conduct June 15-16, 1944, on Saipan. He was seriously wounded in action at the landing on Saipan, receiving a direct hit by a mortar shell in the left thigh. He was returned to the United States in July, 1944, and for almost two years was under treatment at the U. S. Naval Hospital at San Diego. Upon his return to duty in 1940, he entered the Naval War College at Newport, R. I., and upon completing the course became an instructor at the college, remaining until May, 1949. From June, 1949, until February, 1!). )1, he served on the Joint Staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington. He has subsequently served as Staff Planning Officer in the Policy Branch, Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers, Europe, as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, as Chief of Staff, iMarine Corps Schools, and as a member of the Advanced Research Group, Marine Corps Educational Center. His promotion to brigadier general became effeclivc July 1, 19.56, and in April, 1957, he became commanding general of the Recruit Training Connnand at Parris Island, S. C. In August, 1958, he was assigned duty in Washing- ton where he served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Research and Development, larine Corps Headquarters. General Shell returned to Parris Island as depot conmianding general on October 20, 1959, succeeding General David M. Shoiip, who became the 22ud Commandant of the larine Cor])s. In February, 1960, the Virginia Military Institntt ' Hoard of ' isitors announced General Shell ' s selection to the top office at the Institute. The general ended his Marine career on .June 30 and on July 1 bec-tnne the ninth Su])er- intendent of V. M. I. (leneral Shell ' s decorations include the Legion of Merit with Combat V , the Purple Heai-t ; the Presidential Unit Citation; the American Defense Service Medal with Fleet clasp; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign fedal with three bronze stars; the American Campaign Medal; the World War II Victory Medal; and the National Defense Scrvic. ' Medal. General Shell and his wife, the former . lice Reid Gushing, of Washington, D. C, were nuirried July 22. 1933. Thev have three chiklren.

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His Excellency J. Lixdsay Almond, Ju. Gorentor Common wcnith of Virijinia Commander-in-i ' h icf Corps of Cdild.f THE BOARD OF VISITORS First n,m; Left to Right J. Randolph Tuckc r, .Ir , Rk lini l.MilUF Xeal Riclimund, Giles H Miller,.!. . (ieorgeR E B e , Siiperintendenl , U ' ■ui I iln.iril M lmond, nni!,tun, Ala , Scutt S Hugcr, I c i York Citj . Second Row: Lt. Col. T. Marlowe Harper, Secretary; Edward H. Ould, Roanoke; Maj. Gcii. illiain M. hU Pendleton, Wytheville; Elmon T. Gray, Waverly; Sture G. Ousson, West Point. Sot Pirtiiml: R,,l,ert .V. We.st, Covington; llarrv A. deButt.s, I ' ppervillc; Dr. Woodrow W. WilkcTsoii, Hirli 1; Ma Booth, Riihlnond. •nsiihiil. ( uliieper Maj (nn n„ ' toii Clnrlts Ltwis,Ni« .k,.s, .Ir., I.vn.hljiirg; Edmund Gen. Paul M.