134th Infantry Regiment Website 35th Infantry Division Research Center "All Hell Can't Stop Us"

Pfc Andrew M Lawrence

134th Infantry Regiment - Company C

Andrew Melton Lawrence was born on August 3, 1923, in Vernon, Texas. He registered for the draft on June 30, 1942, at the age of 18, while living in Lakeside, California. He was inducted into the U.S. Army on June 14, 1944, at Fort MacArthur, California, and was residing in Phoenix, Arizona, at the time. On December 22, 1944, Lawrence departed the United States for the European Theater of Operations (ETO). He joined Company C, 134th Infantry Regiment, as a rifleman from the 48th Replacement Battalion on January 8, 1945, near Marvie, Belgium. He was promoted to Private First Class on January 15, 1945, and served in the Battle of the Ardennes. On January 31, he suffered frostbite and was initially treated at the 1st Battalion Aid Station in Urspelt, Luxembourg. He was then transferred to the 110th Medical Battalion Clearing Station for evacuation to a general hospital for further care and recovery.

Pfc Lawrence returned to Company C on April 28, 1945, while the 134th Infantry Regiment was stationed near Hanover, Germany, performing occupation duties as World War II came to a close in Europe. In mid-May, the regiment moved to the Koblenz area, at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, continuing occupation duties. By mid-July 1945, they were redeployed to Camp Norfolk, a temporary tent city approximately 40 miles southeast of Reims, France. They departed the Port of Le Havre for England in mid-August and spent a brief period at Tidworth Barracks before boarding the Queen Mary in Southampton on September 5, 1945. The ship arrived in New York Harbor on September 10. Pfc Andrew M Lawrence was honorably discharged from the Army on November 5, 1945, at Fort MacArthur, California. He participated in three major campaigns, Ardennes, Central Europe, and Rhineland. His decorations include the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three battle stars, the Good Conduct Medal, the Purple Heart, and the World War II Victory Medal.

He passed away on October 5, 1981, and is buried at Greenlawn Cemetery in Bakersfield, California.

Pfc Andrew M Lawrence (far right) - other 2 soldiers unknown

List of Queen Mary Autographs

Thanks to Crystal Hall, Pfc Lawrence's granddaughter, for the photographs and documents