Battalion commenced the assault on main Japanese defensive positions. Shofner and his unit took part in the assault on Kunishi Ridge and received the Legion of Merit with Combat "V". Postwar service Shofner and his battalion were then stationed at Motobu Peninsula until the end of September 1945 and subsequently left for China. He led his unit during the Chinese Civil war in Tientsin area and took part in the combats against Chinese communists. Shofner distinguished himself and received Order of the Cloud and Banner with Special Cravat (4th Class) by the Government of China. Shofner returned to the United States in February 1946 and, following a brief leave at home, assumed duty as commanding officer of the post service battalion at Marine Corps Base Quantico under Major General Clifton B. Cates. Shofner served as head coach of the Quantico Marines Devil Dogs football team during the 1946 season. He assumed duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations under Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz in January 1947, before he was ordered to Lima, Peru, for duty as naval attache and naval attache for air in March of that year. Shofner served in that country until June 1949 and received Peruvian Cross for Naval Merit. Upon his return to the United States, Shofner assumed duty as inspector-instructor of 1st Marine Reserve Battalion at Fort Schuyler in New York City. He was then ordered to Camp Lejeune in September 1950 as executive officer of 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division and served in that capacity until January 1952. Shofner was meanwhile promoted to the rank of colonel in November 1951 and ordered to the staff of 2nd Marine Division under Major General Edwin A. Pollock as assistant chief of staff for intelligence (G-2). In April 1952, Shofner took command of the headquarters and service battalion at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, under Major General Merwin H. Silverthorn. He served in this capacity until February 1953, when he assumed duty as assistant chief of staff for intelligence (G-2), and depot inspector. Following the departure of general Silverthorn in June 1954, Shofner was ordered to the Pentagon and appointed head of the Latin American Plans and Policy Section, Western Hemisphere Defense Branch, Strategic Plans Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. His final assignment came in summer of 1957, when he was attached to the staff