Benjamin Smith Shute – Colonel, United States Army

From a contemporary press report:

Benjamin Smith Shute, 94, who served in the Army Corps of Engineers for 30 years before retiring in 1958 as a colonel, died of congestive heart failure September 28, 1998 at the Mount Vernon Nursing Center in Alexandria, Virginia. He lived in Alexandria.

Colonel Shute was commissioned in the corps in 1928. During World War II, he served in Europe with the 18th Airborne Corps. After the war, he served with occupation forces in Japan and at Fort Belvoir. He also served with the 7th Army in Germany and as a special assistant to the Army's chief of engineers before retiring from active duty.

His military decorations included the Legion of Merit, two awards of the Bronze Star and three awards of the Army Commendation Medal.

Colonel Shute, who had lived in the Washington area since 1957, was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts. He was a 1928 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a 1951 graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

His first wife, Barbara, died in 1973, and their son David was killed in action during the Korean War while serving as an Army infantry lieutenant. Survivors include his wife, Louise, of Alexandria; another son from his first marriage, Alan, of Springfield; three granddaughters; and eight great-grandchildren.


SHUTE, BENJAMIN S., COL, USA (Ret.)

On Monday, September 28, 1998, at Mt. Vernon Nursing Home, Alexandria, VA, beloved husband of Louise M. Shute; loving father of Alan H. Shute. Also survived by three granddaughters, Bonnie, Robin and Terry; and eight great grandchildren. Services will be held on Thursday, October 8 at 11 a.m. at Ft. Myer (Old Post) Chapel. Interment Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or Independent Christian Church-Unitarian Universalist, 10 Church St., Gloucester, MA 01930.

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