Date Of Birth: November 2, 1928
Place Of Birth: Hotchkiss WV
Date Of Death: May 26, 2002
Place Of Death: Beaver OH
Place Of Burial: Beaver Union Cemetery in Beaver OH
Branch Of Service: United States Army
War Or Conflict: Korean War
Highest Rank: Sergeant
Unit: Company B 48th Armed Infantry Battalion
Enlistment Date: November 28, 1950
Enlistment Place: Fort Knox KY
Discharge Date: August 15, 1952
Discharge Place: Camp Roberts CA
Wounded In Action: Yes
Spouse: Joyce
Notes: Foreign Service in Korea from April 1951 to March 1952. Company B
48th Armed Infantry Battalion. Received the CIB Korean Service Medal, Three
Bronze Stars, United Nations Service Medal. Received a Commendation Ribbon
with pendent for Meritorious Achievement. Promoted to Sergeant on March 14,
1952. He was a patrol leader with the 7th Infantry Division in Korea. One night
his company commander ordered him to take an ambush patrol after 15 red
soldiers. They were lying in a valley near "Heartbreak Ridge". Pushing through a
wet ravine a scout saw the Red soldiers ahead. Sergeant Lawson moved his men
into position to ambush the Reds. Just as they opened fire, another 15 Reds
opened fire on them from a hill. Lawson saw several of his comrades fall to the
ground wounded. Realizing they were cut off from their company, he prepared
them for a long siege. The patrol soon ran out of ammunition. Sgt. Lawson
started himself out for supplies. Alone, he made his way through enemy fire and
reached his company. Loading himself with ammunition, he made the tortuous
return trip unseen. Having resupplied his men, Sgt. Lawson called for artillery
support with his walkie talkie. So accurate were his radio instructions, that the
artillery shells decimated the enemy in a short time.
Of The Veterans History Project
The American Folklife Center
The Library Of Congress
The Intellectual Property Of
The Beaver Valley Historical Society
Beaver OH 45613.
Use Of This Information Should Be
Credited To The Same.
