Captain (ret.) Albert Shimkus Jr.
The Daniel K. Inouye Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies celebrates the life of former professor and Navy Captain Albert Shimkus Jr. (April 6, 1945 – March 12, 2022).
Born in Hopedale Massachusetts, he graduated from Hopedale High School in 1965 where he was a runner on the cross country team. After graduation, while the U.S. was fully engaged in the Vietnam War, he enrolled in seminary. He left the seminary and lost his 4D Deferment Status and quickly enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.
In 1967, he deployed to Bien Hoa Air Force Base in Vietnam as a general duty medic. While in Vietnam, Al experienced an event that 50 years later he would recall as a “life- altering experience for certain.” In the early hours of January 31, 1968, the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong launched the infamous Tet Offensive, a series of surprise attacks against the South Vietnamese and the U.S. Forces. When Bien Hoa Air Force base became overrun, Al and his fellow countrymen faced the enemy head-on. Four U.S. Airmen were killed in action with another dying of a heart attack. Twenty-six others were wounded.
Following the Vietnam War, he left the Air Force and earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1974 from Salem State College. After some time working in civilian hospitals, in 1977, he commissioned into the U.S. Navy Nursing Corps and was assigned to the Naval Hospital that served the U.S. Naval Academy. In 1982, he received his Bachelor of Science in Nurse Anesthesia from George Washington University.
Al served 33 years in a decorated military career that included assignments as the Senior Medical Officer on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt and the USS George Washington; Executive Officer of U.S. Hospital, Naples, Italy; Commanding Officer of U.S. Navy Hospital Guantanamo Bay; Joint Task Force Surgeon of the Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay; Commanding Officer of Medical Treatment Facility USNS Mercy and the USNS Comfort. He served 11 cumulative years at sea in support of deployed forces.
His military awards include a three-time recipient of the Legion of Merit award, the Joint Meritorious Services award, a four-time recipient of the Meritorious Service Award, a three-time recipient of the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation. For his service in the Vietnam War, he received Vietnam Service and Vietnam Campaign Ribbons, the Vietnam Service Medal, ad three Vietnam Campaign Medals.
Al Shimkus in 2016 visiting the center as a professor from the Navy War College
In 2016, Al first came to the Center as a visiting professor from the Navy War College. He showcased his skills as a leader and educator as seminar leader during an Indo-Pacific Orientation Course and as a panelist on a RIMPAC Symposium on Women, Peace and Security. He eventually came to the Center in April of 2020.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he took on lead responsibilities of the Center’s COVID-19 Working Group (CWG) providing steady-handed leadership during a tumultuous time. Eric Bartolome, the Center’s legal advisor, worked with Al on the CWG.
“In a stressful situation he could have easily used his position to step on others. Instead, he showed his character and led us with unwavering kindness,” said Eric. “I will never forget when the world was in chaos, he said to us, ‘This too, shall pass.’”
As the CWG lead, he gave ongoing recommendations on the Center’s COVID policy and Safety protocols. He also worked closely with USINDOPACOM and the Navy Clinic to ensure the DKI APCSS team had early access to vaccinations and testing for staff and Fellows.
As a seasoned professor, he provided mentorship to the Center’s incoming faculty. DKI APCSS Professor and Navy Captain Kimberly McCann remembers Al foremost as a family man.
“His love and pride for his family was immediately clear when you walked into his office and his entire face lit up when he spoke about his family,” said Captain McCann. “He also dearly loved his country and was focused on doing his part to make the world better.”
“I will remember Al Shimkus as a giant with a humble heart,” said DKI APCSS Director Peter Gumataotao. “He found a graceful way to get us thru tough times during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whatever he did he did in a nurturing way. Whatever he did we always knew if he was involved he gave his whole heart and attention. We are better for it. We will miss him dearly- a gentleman, a scholar, a good man with a big heart.
Christi Shimkus (wife) and Robert Goley (stepson) attend the Remembrance Ceremony
On October 13, 2021, Al provided remarks to the Center while celebrating the Navy’s 246th birthday. He shared the story of Captain (ret.) Charlie Plumb who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam after he parachuted into Hanoi after his fighter jet had been shot down. After his retirement, the retired Navy fighter pilot was approached in a restaurant by the sailor who, he discovered, had packed his parachute. He realized he probably had passed by the sailor often without any forethought because, “he was a fighter pilot and the man was a sailor.”
Al ended what would be his final remarks to the Center saying, “Sometimes in our daily lives we miss what’s really important. We may fail to say hello, please, thank you, congratulate on something, or provide a compliment or just do something kind for no particular reason. As you move thru the rest of your lives [in our Navy uniform] recognize in some way, every day, those who have packed your parachute.”
Al leaves behind his wife, Christi. Together, they have a blended family of nine children, more than 20 grandchildren, and one great granddaughter. He also leaves behind four sisters, Anne Marie, Mary, Sally, and Francis.
CAPT Shimkus was the first Executive Officer I had at a permanent duty station. I met him on his rounds on the ward I was working on as a brand new hospital corpsman. In our very first meeting he asked me about my long term plans. I was 19. I said I thought I wanted to be a Nurse, but was told I wouldn’t qualify for programs until I was an E-5. He then asked me a question that I never forgot. He asked me “who’s going to take care of you?” After about 30 seconds I said “Me?” He told me that was right. No one else, just me. I immediately started working towards my goal of being a Nurse thereafter and was accepted into an Officer program on my first application. For years after I finished my Bachelors degree in Nursing, I started the Nurse Anesthesia program at USUHS. I am forever grateful for the path that he put me on and try to honor his service and now memory by asking young sailors what their plans are and helping them achieve those goals. Thank you CAPT Shimkus for your outstanding service to your country. Your legacy will live forever.
Thank you for sharing a touching memory. We were very fortunate to have him here as a part of the DKI APCSS family.
I wanted to thank you for sharing your memories of my dad. I miss him every day and hearing how he influenced so many makes him feel a little closer.
CAPT AL SHIMKUS is a man who I respected, appreciated and revered greatly. When I first met CAPT Shimkus at the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, it was a short meeting. I had never met him before. I had heard of a great male Navy NC leader previous to our meeting but knew little of him. He had just become the Deputy Commander for Naval District Washington. This was a position that no Navy Nurse Corps Officer ever had the honor nor privilege to hold. As I slowly got to know CAPT Shimkus over my 4 years at BUMED and Joint Task Force National Capital Region, and through the eyes of CAPT David McCarthy, NC, USN, (Ret.), I realized that I had been in the presence of a trail blazer in the Navy Nurse Corps. He led by example and set high level expectations and I admired him for who he was and for all that he accomplished. As I moved on in my career, and went to CNW at the Naval War College, 2010-2011, I found out that CAPT Shimkus was a professor there. He invited many of the Navy Medicine family who were at the college to his house for a gathering so we could all get to know each other. His wonderful wife Beth took us all in as family. Beth and my wife became wonderful friends. My wife grew to respect Beth and she learned a great deal about how to become a Navy wife of a senior officer from her. She and Al made my wife Carrie and I feel as though we were a part of their family and we always knew they had our backs. Al became my mentor in Humanitarian Operations. His office door was always open to his Navy Medicine family for counsel or guidance and I was often found in a chair in his office discussing the future of Navy Medicine…an organization he loved and gave so much to. Later, in my retirement, we became Navy Nurse Corps Association Board members. As I developed the marketing program and proposed the inclusion of the Daisy Awards as a way of marketing our organization to the young Navy Nurse Corps Officers, he gave me encouragement and guidance and helped me get this voted into the NNCA outreach program for sustainment. Al was one of my three key Navy Nurse Corps mentors and I will forever miss the man I grew to know and respect for so many reasons. I salute you Al. Bravo Zulu on a great life lived and for all you did for our Sailors, Marines, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard and Humanitarian Operations servicemen and women. I will miss you greatly. Very respectfully, with great thanks, James Hosack, CAPT, USN, (Ret.).
Thank you so much for sharing these lovely memories of my father. It means so much to read these and get a glimpse of a part of my dad after he is no longer here.
Dear Kathryne (if I may),
I see there is a way to conatct you directly. I would really like to speak to you whenevr you have a moment. I wrote a message about your wonderful father, whom I had the honor to work with in 2003, whenr he was CMO at Guantanamo Bay, responsible for medical care of the detainees there. I was a visiting physician for the international red cross. What I wrote is a bit watered down, as I cannot officially comment on our work, even though I am now retired (since 2012). Which is why I would like to add volume to what I said about All (as he insisted I call him!) If you like we can whatsassp, or just talk on a normal phone call. Looking forward to hearing from you. Happy New Year! Hernan Reyes
I removed your phone number for security reasons but I forwarded your message to Ms. Friess.
As a medical doctor I worked with Captain Al Shimkus at Guantanamo Bay in 2003. I want to say, for the record, and for the benefit of his daughter, and speaking for several physicians who worked with Al, that we can testify that he was a shining example of rectitude and ethical behavior having to be CMO in a complex, somber and conflictual context that is widely known. This has been covered extensively in responsible media. Al Shimkus was not only an ethical person — he was a good person, an honest person, and an excellent CMO with whom my colleagues and myself were able to speak openly. A colleague of mine said “Al Shimkus missed his chance to be more forceful in protecting the detainees”. I stayed in touch with Al after he left his position as CMO; and he invited me to participate in some of the courses he gave at the Naval Academy.
Could he have done more at the time? I think probably not, as the situation there was imposed from much higher up; but I am certain that had he known the full picture, he would have acted to change the situation. For this, for the open exchanges we had, where we both learned from our respective experiences, and for your friendship, Al — I salute you!
My name is Hernán Reyes, I am a physician, and I had the opportuity and honor to work with Al Shimkus when he was CMO overseeing the medical welfare of detainees back in 2003. Al Shimkus was an excellent medical officer from a professional point of view, but most important to me, he was an ethical professional, a fundamentally good man, with whom I had many confidential conversations about the extremely difficult position he occupied and the difficulties he was confronted with. He and I both confided in each other, and we came to understand these difficulties. He was open and honest about what he would like to do but what he was not in a position to do. As it was, he fully supported me and my colleague’s endeavours to try to change the situation for the better. In our final meetings with the overall commanding General at the base at the time, he supported our position, and congratulated my colleague for “sticking to his guns”. Al Shimkus was a military man ethically the total opposite of that commanding general.
Al and I stayed in touch, and I was honored to be invited by him to the Naval War College in Newport, where I gave some lectures on ethical aspects of humanitarian medicine. He and I later also worked on the issue of Hunger Strikes, and introduced him to some of my colleagues who were equally impressed by Al’s convictions. Today, I am certain, had Al known the full extent of what was going on behind the actual scene, he would have been even more forceful in trying to protect the detainees. For this, for your openness and for your strength of character, Al — I salute you!
Dear Shimkus family members ,APCSS Staff and fellows,
I was saddened by the news of the death Prof. Albert Shimkus. I met him while I was attending a course in DKIAPCSS and since then kept in touch with him and tried to meet him when I was in Newport Naval Base.
Prof. Shimkus was a person I respected so much and looked up to. I was honored to have many conversations in person and online.
I take this opportunity to show my respect and present my condolences to his family and DKIAPCSS staff and fellows.
Khalid Al-Ghdani
Oman
CSRT19
I am just now reading this as a friend NC officer sent me this link. Capt Shimkus was the XO when we were at the Naval Hospital in Naples, Italy. I did not want a retirement ceremony but Capt Shimkus highly encouraged and was instrumental in getting an award for me. I do remember him as a very compassionate person and i am saddened by his passing. I know he is with God now as he was such a great man, not even knowing as much as I know now after reading this. I am so thankful to have known him and i pray for his family.
I first met Al as an AF medic at Bien Hoa Air Base, Vietnam in 1967. He and I became good friends as we both worked and lived together. We taught English to Vietnamese children off base, and went to many local villages as part of a medical team to provide health care to the people. Upon return to the USA I was fortunate to continue our friendship. I was assigned to the casualty staging unit at Travis AFB and his wife, Beth, was my boss. Al was instrumental with my decision to pursue a 41 year nursing career. We both attend and graduated together from The Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. Over the years we stayed in touch with each other with phone calls or a postcard. The last time we got together was when he was assigned to the Pentagon and he and Beth lived at the Navy Yard in DC . I last called him when he eventually retired and he lived in Hawaii. He was driving home and said he could not drive and talk so he would call me later. He never called back and I wondered what happened. I never thought for a moment that this good man’s life would soon end.
My most memorable event of Al was on 1/31/1967. A severely injured soldier with a life threatening wound from a rocket explosion arrived to our ER. Without hesitation, Al immediately put on sterile gloves and put his hands into the wound and clamped off bleeding arteries. Our physician and Al tied off every bleeding artery and vein, and packed the wound. I drove the soldier to the flight line and put him on the waiting chopper. When the chopper dusted off, heading to the surgical hospital at Long Bien, the soldier was still alive. We never knew the soldiers name, but Al saved this young man’s life. I think that Al’s love for health care, ethics, humanitarianism, and his compassion for people was certainly formulated by his experiences in Vietnam. Al was special.
I have so many great memories of Al. He was such a good friend. I miss him. Rest in peace Al.