Walter V. Lawrence

Walter V. "Bud" Lawrence

Born in 1924 - Still going strong!

U.S. Army Air Corps

Years Served: 1942-1945

Served our Country in World War II

On June 29, 1944, a young man who seven years later would become my Dad, was on his 21st mission as a waist gunner in a B-24 Bomber over Magdburg, Germany when his injured aircraft collided with another B-24 at 21,000 feet.  Of his 9-member crew, only 3 survived.  On the ground, the survivors were captured and my Dad became a prisoner of war for 10 months.  He was one of 6,000 prisoners who were forced to march 600 miles, during a period of 52 days, before being liberated by the English on April 21, 1945.  My 6' 1" Dad weighed 125 lbs. the day of his liberation.  On May 30, 1945, which was my Dad's 21st birthday, he sailed into New York Harbour a war hero and a free man.  The next year he went to Bible college, met my Mom, married her and the two of them became parents to three daughters and raised us in an amazing Christian home.  God has blessed them greatly during their 60 years of marriage and ministry.  I am writing this tribute on May 16, 2008, and two weeks from today my Dad will be 84 years old.  He is, and always will be, my hero.  He is the most Godly, gentle, humble and wisest man I have ever known.  Because of him, and others like him, I have lived a life of freedom in the United States of America, and I will be forever grateful. 

-- Linda (Lawrence) Snyder, Franklin, TN.