William A. Shunk

William A. Shunk (23 December 1857 – 9 March 1936) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the American Indian Wars, Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, Military Government of Cuba, Mexican Border War, and World War I, he attained the rank of colonel. Shunk spent his career in the Cavalry, and his commands included the 1st Cavalry Regiment, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 15th Cavalry Regiment, and commandant of the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

A native of Westville, Indiana, and an 1879 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Shunk was commissioned in the Cavalry. His initial postings included American Indian Wars duty at forts in Texas and New Mexico. In 1887, he graduated from the Infantry and Cavalry School of Application (now the United States Army Command and General Staff College). After Cavalry postings in Texas and North Dakota, he joined the faculty of the Infantry and Cavalry School, where he served from 1889 to 1893. In 1893, he served with the army contingent that staffed the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. During the Spanish–American war, he served in staff roles at Camp Chickamauga, Georgia. From 1899 to 1901, he served with the 34th U.S. Volunteer Infantry during the Philippine–American War. In 1901 and 1902, he served with the Military Government of Cuba, and he was assigned as professor of military science and tactics at St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin, from 1904 to 1908.

In 1909 and 1910, Shunk was assigned to duty in the Philippines as a member of the 1st Cavalry Regiment, and he served as the regimental commander on more than one occasion. After his return to the United States, he commanded the 1st Cavalry at the Presidio of San Francisco from February to July 1910, the post at Fort Walla Walla, Washington, from July until August 1910, and the post at Boise Barracks, Idaho, from August 1910 to March 1911. In March and April 1911, Shunk commanded the Department of the Colorado and the post at Fort Huachuca, Arizona during the Mexican Border War. He graduated from the United States Army War College in June 1912, after which he served as chief of National Guard affairs for the Central Department in Chicago.

From June 1914 to October 1915, Shunk commanded the 7th Cavalry Regiment in the Philippines. In 1915 and 1916, he was commander of the 15th Cavalry Regiment during its service in the Philippines. During World War I, he was posted to Camp Vandiver Park, Alabama from 1916 to 1917 as senior mustering in officer for units of the National Guard being called up for service on the Mexican border and in France. From 1917 to 1919, Shunk commanded the post at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and served as commandant of the Infantry and Cavalry School, by then called the Army Service Schools. He performed recruiting duty in Syracuse, New York, from June to August 1919 and Los Angeles from August 1919 to March 1921. From March 1921 until reaching the mandatory retirement age of 64 in December 1921, Shunk was commander of the Southern California Border District.

In retirement, Shunk lived in Washington, D.C. He died in Washington on 9 March 1936. Shunk was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.