Duluth Veteran and Volunteer Recognized for Significant Service

DULUTH, Minn.– a Duluth based veteran has dedicated his life of service through a lens, and even volunteering with the Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota.

Following his dedication for sharing history, the ‘DAV’ is filming a tribute video to honor Shaw, during his service both in and out of uniform.

Meet Patrick Shaw, a veteran, a volunteer, grandfather and friend.

His story begins with his enlistment in the Navy at age 18.

He knew as soon as he left photography ‘a’ school, he was going to make history.

“But after that was all done, I got my orders. I’m going on leave, woo hoo! I’m going on leave again. We’re going home to Hawaii. We got halfway to Hawaii, and we got turned around. You’ve been picked to do Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 recoveries. And so no more leave. So, we turned around and did the training for Apollo 11 and Apollo 12,” recalled Shaw.

His mission was to direct photographers, and to run a movie camera.

Filming the helicopter land on the hanger bay, and the astronauts heading to the chamber bay.

He was there, just about every step of the way.

“And for Apollo 12, there was 20 of us doing the same job. So, but that was my assignment for 11. For Apollo 12, I was in charge of directing all flight deck and above photographers for the recovery,” explained Shaw.

Shortly after Apollo 12, he was decommissioned and moved back to Duluth.

After his time in the service, he just couldn’t quit.

Spending his days telling his stories to schools, classes, or anyone willing to lend an ear for history.

“History is something that shouldn’t be never forgot. This is a one time in history. And I got to be there for that,” said Shaw.

Shaw’s story has been told by photos, videos, and artifacts, but also, in a museum.

Back in 2018, Shaw was face to face with his history once more.

“I’m kind of walking the passageways, and all of a sudden a hair saw my arms, and I says, I’ve been here. I went down into the area, I found my locker still had my name on it, after, after, wow. It got decommissioned in ’70 and still had my name on it in ’18,” said Shaw.

And during our visit with Pat, he wasted no time getting into some show and tell.

“These are my pictures at the end, when we got back to Hawaii. My job was to track anything that was on the ground until the capsule was put on a tram to go to back to Johnson Space Center, or wherever it went,” explained Shaw, pointing at some photos.

Shaw also kept busy with the DAV, volunteering as a transporter for medical appointments.

“Pat’s over the last four years with Pat himself 10,246 miles, 672 hours and 545 veterans he’s brought to and from medical appointments in the last four years, and that’s just one man locally,” said Daniel Wellsand, Hospitality Service Coordinator, DAV.

Leaving his mark with his passion for helping veterans, the DAV is returning the favor by filming a tribute video for him.

“I really appreciate Pat not only his service and everything but working with him so closely for the last three years and to know where he came from. Started very meekly, raising his hand. We didn’t have a commander, and we needed one to continue as a chapter, and we sat with blank stares amongst all the members and no one and Pat finally raised his hand,” beamed Wellsand.