Lebanon man honored aboard USS Shoup during Rose Festival's fleet week

By Michelle Steinhebel, Lebanon Express writer

Jim Staggs of Lebanon was honored by the Veterans of Oregon last month during a surprise ceremony.

The ceremony, which was in recognition of World War II military service, took place aboard the USS Shoup.

The ship was in Portland during the Rose Festival's fleet week. Staggs, a Navy veteran, was given a tour of the ship and his wife Toni and daughter Esther Hillary, rode on the ship from Kalama, Wash., to Portland.

While the golden service medal Staggs received is special to him, it may have more importance to his daughter and family.

"I'm proud of him. I know he says everyone in his generation served…" Hillary said, trailing off.

"… But it took each person working together to accomplish what they did," Toni finished.

Staggs served three years during WWII on the USS Oxford.

He served on an amphibious personal attack ship which had the capacity of carrying 1,500 troops and 26 landing crafts.

"Our job was to move troops to major invasions, including the landing on Japan," Staggs explained.

The ship travelled to New Guinea, the Philippines and other countries. The Oxford dropped off the first troops to land on Japan after the atomic bomb.

They were under direct order not to shoot unless they were attacked. Instead, they got cover from cruisers, destroyers and carriers.

"We just did our thing. We picked up troops and dropped them off," he said. "Our job was primarily shuttling troops from here to there."

The Army troops would load into landing crafts on the side of the Oxford, and Staggs would watch as they made their way to shore.

"We were close enough we could watch the landing crafts hit the beach," he said.

Sailors aboard the USS Oxford did not sustain any casualties during the war. Only two people died on the ship, and their deaths were not due to battle injuries.

Joining the Navy was a natural choice for Staggs. When he was a child he enjoyed watching Naval ships leave Port Angeles, Wash., where he lived.

"I was brought up around the Navy," he said.

Staggs enlisted into the Navy when he was 18.

Although his job duties were serious, Staggs and the crew did fit in time for fun.

A monkey kept the Oxford crew company for a short time. When it was discovered by officers, the monkey was released.

One Christmas near New Guinea, sailors used the rudder for a diving board and enjoyed the clear-blue water, Staggs remembered.

While in New Guinea during some down time, a couple of sailors were discussing how to get coconuts out of a tree. Staggs thought he had the solution.

"I took my shoes off and I must have been about 15 to 20 feet off the ground and I started hurting. I looked down and there were red ants all over me!"

Staggs climbed down the tree - in record time - and ran straight for the water.

"I stripped as I ran. And I'll tell you what: Those little red ants, they bite!" Staggs said.

While he never got his coconut, other efforts have been recognized.

On June 4, Staggs was awarded an honorable service medal from the Veterans of Oregon.

Staggs and his family went up to Portland to receive the award, although he didn't know the award was coming.

They were invited to board the USS Shoup in Kalama, Wash., and ride it to Portland, where the ship was taking part in the Rose Festival's fleet week.

A group of Oregon veterans were given a tour of the ship's facilities.

Staggs was surprised when they called his name to receive a medal during the ceremony.

"To me it was like, why all the fuss?" he said humbly.

Hillary sees it differently.

"They did what they had to do and came home. They made a good life for us. My generation has benefitted," she said. "We are grateful."