Rights Movement Looses Stalwart

The Firearms Coalition Looses Friend

           Major Reginald Shinn (USAF) Ret. passed away February 2, 2012 in Sacramento, CA at the age of 92.  

He served in the United States Air Force (Army Air Corps) during WWII in the Pacific Theater as a Navigator/Bombardier between March-September 1944, flew 50 combat bombings, eight low-level missions.  He was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses and six Air Medals.

          After the conclusion of the war, he was assigned to Germany and served under General Curtis E. LeMay. Served during the Korean War as a flight instructor. In 1949, he was part of the top-secret mission of the Lucky Lady II – the first airplane to circumnavigate the world non-stop.  He also served with the 54th Weather Recon. Sqd. as part of the “Typhoon Chasers,” who actually flew into the centers of typhoons.  He obtained his law degree (St. Mary’s and San Antonio LLB, Juris Doctor 1958) while in the Air Force.  He served four years USMCR while attending High School.  Retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1962 after 20 years with the rank of Major.  After his retirement from the Air Force, he worked for the Internal Revenue Service as an estate and gift tax attorney.  He eventually retired at age 87 after some 45 years of service.

           He was passionately dedicated to the cause of freedom and was a political activist in an attempt to preserve the nation of The United States as a shining example of freedom – complete with a limited governmental system that remains restrained by the bounds of The Constitution.  To this purpose, he was a lifetime member of The John Birch Society, and was a Life Member National Rifle Association, Guns Owners of America, and supported many individual efforts. He was the California Chairman CAL-American Pistol and Rifle Association, and organized and hosted 27 public events: the “Dining In” in Sacramento. 

Above all, he was a Christian by faith.  Along the way, he was a good friend to many people and was always interested in uplifting others any way that he could help out. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew him; his courage, strength and goodwill shall forever be part of our lives.  Services were held on Thursday, February 9 at Lind Brothers Mortuary in Carmichael; the burial service was held on the same day at 2:00pm at The Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, California. 

The family has requested that those interested in memorializing Major Shinn do so by making a contribution in his memory to the donor’s favorite charity.

 The Knox family sends our deepest condolence to Rege’s family.  His wise counsel, uplifting spirit, and skilled dedication will be sorely missed.