Teddy Shapou

{{Infobox military person

|name= Teddy Shapou

|image=Captain Teddy Shapou in 1943.jpg

|image_size=

|alt=

|caption=Captain Teddy Shapou in 1943

|nickname=

|birth_date= {{birth date|1919|01|07|df=yes}}

|birth_place= Lawrence, Massachusetts

|death_date= {{deathdateandage|1985|05|17|1919|01|07|df=yes}}

|death_place= New Bern, North Carolina

|placeofburial=

|allegiance= United States

|branch=United States Army Air Forces

|serviceyears=

|rank= Captain

|unit=74th Fighter Squadron

|commands=

|battles= World War II

|awards= Silver Star
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal

|relations=

|laterwork=

}}

Theodore Roosevelt Shapou ({{Birth date|1919|01|07}} – {{Death date|1985|05|17}}) was an American fighter pilot of World War II.

Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1919[http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/ref/bio/sabio.html Biographical Clpping Files Index] UNC Library to Lebanese-American parents, he grew up in New Bern, North Carolina with his three sisters. He first attended North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, then transferred to Georgetown College in Kentucky to be closer to his future wife. He starred in football and baseball,{{cite journal |url=http://www.baseballinwartime.com/BIWNewsletterVol7No35May2015.pdf |title=Other Ballplaying Servicemen: Teddy Shapou |journal=Baseball in Wartime Newsletter |volume=7 |number=35 |date=May 2015}} and studied zoology and botany before dropping out to join the United States Army Air Forces. In a War Department document dated September 26, 1941, he is listed as a second lieutenant and pilot in the Air Corps Reserve.{{cite web |url=http://library.digitalnc.org/cdm/ref/collection/ncmemory/id/11816 |title=Shapou, Teddy Roosevelt |publisher=North Carolina Digital Heritage Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill}}

He was first assigned to a pursuit group in Puerto Rico before joining the 14th Air Force in China as a fighter pilot. He served with the 74th Fighter Squadron in the China Burma India Theater.{{Cite web |url=http://www.flyingtiger.org/files/squadrons/74th/74th%20FS%20WWII.html |title=flyingtiger.org |access-date=2008-05-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011022102/http://www.flyingtiger.org/files/squadrons/74th/74th%20FS%20WWII.html |archive-date=2008-10-11 |url-status=dead }} He was awarded at the same ceremony the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal "for combat flying in China."[http://cbi-theater-15.home.comcast.net/roundup/roundup102243.html Flyer Hits Jackpot] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822144003/http://cbi-theater-15.home.comcast.net/roundup/roundup102243.html |date=2007-08-22 }} CBI Roundup Vol. II No. 6 Reg. No. L5015 Delhi, Friday October 22, 1943 He is said to have shot down several Zeros and assisted with downing a Mitsubishi bomber. His photograph was auctioned in New Bern for war bonds for $8,500.[http://cbi-theater-15.home.comcast.net/roundup/roundup111943.html Captain's Photo Sold During Bond Drive]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}} CBI Roundup NOVEMBER 19, 1943 He reached the rank of captain. After the war, he worked in the civil service at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Havelock, North Carolina.{{cn|date=June 2022}}

He was married to Kathleen Jones in 1942. They had two daughters, Marilyn and Janis Claire, who was named to honor General Claire Chennault. The Shapous were members of St. Paul Catholic Church.[http://www.newsargus.com/obituaries/archives/2004/09/08/kathleen_shapou/index.shtml Goldsboro News Argus Wife's Obit]

Captain Shapou died May 17, 1985, in New Bern.