Lew Shattuck was born in 1932 in Vancouver, Washington. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on October 17, 1952, and served in an enlisted status while waiting for a class assignment for the Aviation Cadet Program at Craig AFB, Alabama, from October 1952 to October 1953. Lew entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Air Force in October 1953, and was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings on October 13, 1954. After completing F-86D Sabre interceptor training at Perrin AFB, Texas, in June 1955, Lt Shattuck then served as an F-86D pilot with the 40th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Yokota AB, Japan, from June 1955 to August 1957, followed by service with the 1737th Ferry Squadron at Dover AFB, Delaware, from August 1957 to February 1958. He served as an F-100 Super Sabre pilot with the 308th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Turner AFB, Georgia, from February 1958 to February 1959, and then as an F-100 and then F-105 Thunderchief pilot with the 333rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, from February 1959 to November 1961. Capt Shattuck next served as an F-105 pilot with the 334th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson from December 1961 to January 1962, followed by service as an F-105 pilot with the 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson from January 1962 to May 1963. He served as an F-105 pilot with the 53rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Bitburg AB, West Germany, from May 1963 to March 1966, and then as an F-105 pilot with the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Takhli Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from March 1966 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on July 11, 1966. After spending 2,409 days in captivity, Lt Col Shattuck was released during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at March AFB, California, and then attended Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from August 1973 to July 1974. His final assignment was attached to Air University while he completed his Master's degree at Troy State University in Troy, Alabama, from July 1974 until his retirement from the Air Force on March 1, 1976.

His Silver Star Citation reads:

For the period July 1966: This officer distinguished himself by gallantry and intrepidity in action in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force during the above period while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. Ignoring international agreements on treatment of prisoners of war, the enemy resorted to mental and physical cruelties to obtain information, confessions, and propaganda materials. This individual resisted their demands by calling upon his deepest inner strengths in a manner which reflected his devotion to duty and great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.