SHAPLEY, ALAN

Alan Shapley, Lt. Gen., USMC (Ret.), 70, a highly decorated veteran of World War II and the Korean conflict, died May 13 [1973] of a lung tumor at the Bethesda Naval Hospital, Md.

A 1927 graduate of the Naval Academy, he commanded the Marine detachment aboard battleship Arizona and won the Silver Star for rescuing a drowning man when the Japanese bombed the ship at Pearl Harbor.

Gen. Shapley led the 2nd Marine Raider Regiment at Bougainville, which earned him the Legion of Merit, and later organized the 4th Marines, which he commanded at Emirau, Guam and Okinawa. He won the Navy Cross for heroism at Guam and a second Legion of Merit for service on Okinawa.

He accompanied Adm. William F. Halsey on a goodwill tour of Central and South America, served with the Atlantic Fleet Marine Force and later was chief of staff of the Recruit Depot at San Diego. He served on NATO’s international planning staff, then earned the Bronze Star as chief of staff of the 1st Division in Korea.

Gen. Shapley commanded the 3rd Division, was director of the Marine Corps Reserve, and was commanding general of the Marine Corps Base at Camp Pendleton. He commanded the Pacific Fleet Marine Force until he retired in 1962 at which time he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.

At Annapolis he starred in football, basketball and track and was active in athletics through his Marine Corps career. He coached and played on the All-Marine Corps football teams in 1927 and 1928 and refereed fleet boxing events.

Gen. Shapley is survived by his wife, Eleanore, of 4434 Q St., NW, Washington, D.C.; a daughter and a son.