After graduating from Wilbur D. Mills High School, Shaw attended Arkansas Tech University before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1998. Shaw was assigned to the 1st Battalion 5th Marines in Camp Pendleton, California, where he served two overseas tours and one sea service tour before being honorably discharged in 2002. In October of 2004, Shaw chose once again to nobly serve his country by joining the U.S. Army where he served two tours of duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and it was in his second tour where he gave his life for our country.

  Alan Shaw was proud to serve in the military and is remembered as an outstanding leader and friend to his fellow soldiers. Shaw had a passion for life and a vision for the future, and his personality sparked happiness in all those around him. His dedication to making the lives of those around him and the communities he lived in better could not have been greater.

  Alan Shaw gave his life to serve our country and will forever be remembered as a hero, a father, a husband and a friend. My deepest condolences go out to his wife Sharrell; his three children Austin, Jourdan and Davyn; his parents Jarrell Bentley and Noramae Shaw of Little Rock; his siblings Larry and Lisa Shaw, Bud and Terri Bradley, Darren and Mindy Shaw, Randy and Angie Shaw, Amber Shaw and Jeffrey Shaw all of Little Rock; and to his nine nieces and nephews. He will be missed by his family, his community and all those who knew him and called him a friend. I will continue to keep Alan Shaw and his family in my deepest thoughts and prayers.