Lee Lawrence

Major General Lee Lawrence began his military career in 1941 when he entered the United States Army as a private. In March 1942, upon graduating from the Fort Benning Officer Candidate School, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, Infantry. | During World War II, General Lawrence served in the European Theater as a Company Commander with the 28th and 95th Infantry Divisions and was awarded five battle stars, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Bronze Star for Valor. His stateside duty assignments included Platoon Leader and Adjutant, 16th Training Battalion; Assistant Adjutant and S-2, 5th Regiment; Senior Instructor, Armored School, 17th Training Battalion, all at Fort McClellan, Alabama; and Company Commander with the 94th Infantry Division at Camp McCain, Mississippi. | He was released from active duty in November 1945, when he joined the Army Reserve. In Reserve status, General Lawrence assumed command of the 481st Replacement Company in 1948. In 1950 he became the Assistant G1 of a replacement training center where he remained until he returned to active duty in 1952.  During the Korean Conflict, General Lawrence served at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Following this tour of active duty, General Lawrence again joined the Army Reserve. | In 1953 General Lawrence began 12 years with the faculty of the Command and General Staff Department, 2078th United States Army Reserve School, subsequently becoming director of the department in 1966. In January 1968, he was named Assistant Chief of Staff, G3, 83d United States Army Reserve Command (ARCOM). While holding this position, he also served on the Augmentation Faculty, Department of Larger Unit Operations, Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Following two years as Deputy Commander of the 83d ARCOM, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in 1972. General Lawrence became the Acting Commander, 83rd ARCOM, on 20 January 1974, with assignment as Commander becoming effective 22 May 1974 and promotion to the rank of Major General being effective 12 February 1975.