Shirey Scholarship 

a JAVA Memorial Scholarship for High School Seniors

JAVA is profiling the sacrifices and contributions made by the men and women that our JAVA Memorial Scholarship program honors. Today's issue features the Shirey Scholarship in honor of JAVA member and 442nd veteran Major Orville Shirey, and his wife Maud Shirey. It is one of the $1,500 JAVA Memorial Scholarships that will be awarded to a high school senior who will be attending either a two or four-year college or university in the fall. Application information can be found at the end of the article as well as on the JAVA website.   

Major Orville Shirey, 442nd Veteran

Major Shirey was born in Cumberland, Maryland, and graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1942. While at Maryland, Orville participated in the ROTC program and was editor of the school newspaper, Diamondback. Following the activation of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a segregated Japanese American unit in 1943, he served as the S-2 Regimental Intelligence Officer during the unit’s entire historic combat role. Immediately after the war, in 1946, Major Shirey's book Americans: The Story of the 442nd Combat Team, was published by the Infantry Journal Press, where he worked as Assistant to the Editor. Shirey's book continues to be one of the most authoritative sources on the combat record of the segregated Japanese American troops. 

Shirey considered his military service in 442nd Regimental Combat Team as being a high point in his life. During the memorial service for Orville, Yeiichi Kelly Kuwayama, a Combat Medic in Company E of the 442nd, remarked, "Major Shirey was held in high respect by the men and officers of the Japanese American 100th Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team for his intelligence, honesty, integrity, and devotion to duty." Shirey's son, Michael, noted that, while his father did not discuss details of his war years, it was clear that "serving with the 442nd was the proudest and most rewarding experience in his lifetime. He loved you guys." Major Shirey’s military awards included the Legion of Merit, Combat Infantryman Badge, Distinguished Unit Badge, and the Medaglia al Valore Militare (Medal of Valor) from the Italian Government. 

After the end of World War II, Mr. Shirey went on to enjoy a successful career in marketing consulting. While working at the Infantry Journal Press (now Army magazine), his boss asked him to lead the firm’s mail order service. He became fascinated with this line of work and in 1953 left the Press to open his own direct marketing consulting firm. Eventually, he would have as his clients the US News and World Report, the National Geographic Society, and the Air Force Association. He became the president of the Direct Marketing Association of Washington and editor of its newsletter for ten years.

Maud Shirey graduated in 1939 from Allegany High School in Cumberland, Maryland, and graduated from Western Maryland College in 1943. She majored in English Literature with a minor in Library Science. Following graduation, Maud moved to New York City and landed a job as a radio engineer at Voice of America and the Armed Forces Radio for three years until the war ended. After the war, Maud returned home to Cumberland, married Orville Shirey, and moved to the Washington, D.C. area. In addition to raising and caring for her family, she served on the founding boards of Grace Episcopal Day School and Grace Episcopal Church’s Pennyworth Shop, where she volunteered faithfully for over 40 years.

JAVA Scholarship Eligibility and Applications

Eligibility:

  • Descendants of those who served in the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the Military Intelligence Service, the 1399th Engineer Construction Battalion, 522nd Field Artillery Battalion or descendants of Japanese American soldiers who served during World War II other United States military units, including the Women’s Army Corps or Army Nurses Corps are eligible and encouraged to apply. 
  • Current members of JAVA whose membership began prior to April 1, 2022, are eligible and encouraged to apply. Children of current JAVA members are also eligible and encouraged to apply if the applicant’s parent or guardian was a member of JAVA prior to April 1, 2022. 
  • Past or present members of the Army’s 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment, ROTC, or U.S. Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Course are eligible and encouraged to apply for the Senator Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Scholarship. Applicants should demonstrate their lifelong commitment to uniformed service and public leadership for the nation.

 

Applications:

  • Applicants should first review published rules and forms.
  • Applications and supporting documents must be electronically submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 30, 2024, to javascholarship222@gmail.com. Applications not received by that date or that fail to meet the submission requirements will NOT be considered. Applicants will be notified of a decision by early June 2024.
  • Awards will be presented at a JAVA scholarship awards ceremony in July 2024. 


    2024 JAVA Memorial Scholarship Program Overview here.

    2024 U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Scholarship here.

    2024 Ishio Founder's Scholarship here.

    2024 Kiyoko Tsuboi Taubkin Legacy Scholarship here.

    2024 JAVA Memorial Scholarships here.


    Questions or Suggestions: Please contact Antoinette Phelps, at javapotomac@gmail.com.

    Japanese American Veterans Association:  Address: P.O. Box 341198, Bethesda, MD 20827 I 

    https://java-us.org