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Lawson, Arthur Emmett

    Date of birth:
    March 28th, 1908
    Date of death:
    October 11th, 1977
    Nationality:
    American (1776 - present, Republic)

    Biography

    Arthur Emmett Lawson joined the US Army in 1923 in the rank of private, E-1. He served with the Massachusetts National Guard, Combat Engineer Units in New Bedford, PaIl River, Brockton and Newburyport, Massachusetts until 1939, eventually attaining the rank of E-6.
    He was drafted in 1939 and for 6 months underwent training in Camp Edwards and Camp Devens, both in Massachusetts. 1942 he was sent to North-Africa. 1943 he took part in the fighting in Siciliy and in Italy and was promoted to E-7. 1944 he was transferred to Great Britain in preparation for the invasion of Europe. June 6th, 1944 on D-day he came ashore in Normandy. Subsequently he participated in the fightng in France, Luxemburg, Germany and Czechoslowakia where he was promoted to Master-Sergeant, E-8.
    During the battle of the Bulge he was recommended for a DSC but this was not awarded to him. He was also injured and spent ten days in England for recuperation. After returning to his unit he took part in the liberation of the Buchenwald laborcamp. Here he was partly in charge of burials of the victims. In 1945, Arthur Lawson was degraded to E-7 for alleged mistreatment of German prisonguards in Buchenwald. February 1945 he was acquitted and re-instated in rank. In 1945 he was a member of the Allied Occupation Force in Czechoslowakia.
    September 1945 he was demobilised in the rank of Master-Sergeant, E-8.

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Staff Sergeant (E-6)
    Unit:
    101st Combat Engineers
    Awarded on:
    1942
    Recieved for a wound inflicted in Northern-Africa.
    Purple Heart
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Staff Sergeant (E-6)
    Unit:
    101st Combat Engineers
    Awarded on:
    1942
    For service in Northern-Africa.
    Bronze Star  Medal (BSM)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Staff Sergeant (E-6)
    Unit:
    101st Combat Engineers
    Awarded on:
    1942
    For service in Northern-Africa.
    Silver Star Medal (SSM)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Sergeant First Class (E-7)
    Unit:
    101st Combat Engineers
    Awarded on:
    1943
    For service at the Southern-European Theatre.
    Distinguished Service Medal - Army (DSM)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Sergeant First Class (E-7)
    Unit:
    101st Combat Engineers
    Awarded on:
    1943
    For service at the Southern-European Theatre.

    Second Silver Star received as an oak leaf cluster for on the ribbon of the first Silver Star.
    Silver Star Medal (SSM)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Sergeant First Class (E-7)
    Unit:
    101st Combat Engineers
    Awarded on:
    1944
    Received for a wound inflicted during the Battle of the Bulge.

    Second Purple Heart received as an oak leaf cluster for on the ribbon of the first Purple Heart.
    Purple Heart
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Sergeant First Class (E-7)
    Unit:
    101st Combat Engineers
    Awarded on:
    1944
    Received for service during the Battle of the Bulge.

    Third Silver Star received as a second oak leaf cluster for on the ribbon of the first Silver Star.
    Silver Star Medal (SSM)

    Sources

    • Photo 1: Michael Travers
    • - Service Record

    Photo