CDR Ralph Nevins Shaver
May 6, 1912 – September 2, 1984
Chief Radioman Ralph Nevins Shaver received four Silver Stars for his submarine service during World War Two. Citations follows:
Citation #1
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Chief Radioman Ralph N. Shaver, United States Navy, for gallantry in action while serving aboard a United States Submarine during war patrols in enemy-controlled waters during World War II. As a crewman on a submarine during three extensive war patrols, Chief Radioman Shaver efficiently performed his duties and assisted in destroying a large amount of enemy shipping.
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 321 (December 1943)
Citation #2
SYNOPSIS: Chief Radioman Ralph N. Shaver, United States Navy, was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star for gallantry in action while serving aboard a United States Submarine during war patrols in enemy-controlled waters during World War II. Under the most difficult conditions he skillfully furnished his commanding officer with vital information, enabling him to sink over 39,000 tons of enemy shipping and damage over 4,000 tons.
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 340 (July 1945)
Citation #3
SYNOPSIS: Chief Radioman Ralph N. Shaver, United States Navy, was awarded a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star for gallantry in action while serving aboard a United States Submarine during war patrols in enemy-controlled waters during World War II. Chief Shaver’s ability in transmitting information to his Commanding Officer contributed directly to the sinking of an important amount of enemy shipping and the damaging of an enemy warship.
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 340 (July 1945)
Citation #4
SYNOPSIS: Chief Radioman Ralph N. Shaver, United States Navy, was awarded a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Silver Star for gallantry in action while serving aboard a United States Submarine during war patrols in enemy-controlled waters during World War II. Chief Shaver’s contributed materially to the sinking of more than 30,000 tons of enemy shipping. His calm manner and devotion to duty were of valuable assistance and his conduct was an inspiration to all with whom he served.
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 340 (July 1945)
Ralph Nevins Shaver
HOME OF RECORD: Groton Connecticut
SERVICE DATES — USN 7/1928 – 8/1958
RANK AT RETIREMENT — Commander
DOB: May 6, 1912
DOD: Sept 2, 1984
BURIAL: Arlington Cemetery
WWII Submarine Service via 15 Muster Rolls – National Archives
SS-46 – 31 March 1939
NITRO AE-2 – 31 July 1940
HADDOCK SSN-231 – 30 April 1942
HOLLAND AS-3 – 30 June 1943
DRUM SSN-228 – 31 Dec 1943
TREPANG SS-412 – 30 Sept 1943
CREVALLE SS-291 – 1 Oct 1945 to 1 Jan 1946
SIGNIFICANT AWARDS AND CITATIONS
Awarded for actions during the World War II
SILVER STAR (4)
NAVY PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (3)
NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION (2)
SUBMARINE COMBAT PIN
Photo credit: Navy Memorial — CDR Shaver in Washington DC 1958
Source: valor.militarytimes.com
Note: Biographical information on Chief Shaver is difficult to find. If anyone has any additional information on him, please let us know.
Station HYPO 
6 May 2025 at 19:53
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49312705/ralph-nevin-shaver
Slightly more info at the above. A Yangtze River Patrol ribbon may lead to more info at The National Archives. Good hunting.
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7 May 2025 at 19:11
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/127427356?objectPage=20
Lot of info on CDR Shavers duty on the Haddock Page 181/318 the day he left Haddock for the Drum.
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7 May 2025 at 20:01
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/125722039?objectPage=291
The next move for CRM(AA) Shaver.
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8 May 2025 at 00:18
Name: Ralph Nevin ShaverBirth Date: 06 May 1912Death Date: 02 Sep 1984Event Type: BurialEvent Place: Arlington, Arlington, Virginia, United States of AmericaEvent Place (Original): Arlington, Arlington, Virginia, United States of AmericaCemetery: Arlington National CemeteryPhotograph Included: Y
Citing this Record
“Find a Grave Index”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVK5-PMC7 : Fri Apr 04 00:39:53 UTC 2025), Entry for Ralph Nevin Shaver.
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8 May 2025 at 01:13
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/125844197?objectPage=216
Page 216 of 225 at National Archives show CETM(SS) Ralph Shaver being trasferred to US Naval Submarine Base, New London, FFA Greenfish detail. His time on the Crevalle according to their book keeping from Sept 1945 to May 1946.
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9 May 2025 at 13:20
Service dates do not seem correct. 7/1928 means he enlisted at 16 years old. Rather see the “Find A Grave” site & the news article that seems to state that Ralph said he enlisted when he was 18 years old. That seems to me to be 1930.
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12 May 2025 at 19:51
From our local library’s Ancestry connection (all AI) ” RM1C Ralph N. Shaver reported in to R-10 on 19 July 1940 from USS S-46″. Further on that record it states “Date/Place of Enlistment 4 May 1934, Washington, D.C.” I do not put a lot of faith in AI.
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