Lawson, Arthur Emmett
- Date of birth:
- March 28th, 1908
- Date of death:
- October 11th, 1977
- Nationality:
- American
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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Purple Heart
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Staff Sergeant (E-6)
- Unit:
- 101st Combat Engineers
- Awarded on:
- 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Staff Sergeant (E-6)
- Unit:
- 101st Combat Engineers
- Awarded on:
- 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Staff Sergeant (E-6)
- Unit:
- 101st Combat Engineers
- Awarded on:
- 1942
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Sergeant First Class (E-7)
- Unit:
- 101st Combat Engineers
- Awarded on:
- 1943
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Sergeant First Class (E-7)
- Unit:
- 101st Combat Engineers
- Awarded on:
- 1943
Second Silver Star received as an oak leaf cluster for on the ribbon of the first Silver Star.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Sergeant First Class (E-7)
- Unit:
- 101st Combat Engineers
- Awarded on:
- 1944
Second Purple Heart received as an oak leaf cluster for on the ribbon of the first Purple Heart.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Sergeant First Class (E-7)
- Unit:
- 101st Combat Engineers
- Awarded on:
- 1944
Third Silver Star received as a second oak leaf cluster for on the ribbon of the first Silver Star.
Sources
- Photo 1: Michael Travers
- - Service Record
Photo
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