World War II Honoree

Lawrence W. Hatch

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Alexandria, Virginia

Honored By

GWHS Class of 1944

JOINED THE ARMY MARCH 1, 1943. BASIC TRAINING 8 WEEKS AT FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA. THEN DEPLOYED TO NORTH AFRICA .PARTICIPATED IN NORTH AFRICA CAMPAIGN ENGAGING ROMMEL’S AFRIKA CORPS AND IN THE INVASION AT SALERNO, SICILY IN SEPTEMBER 1943. WAS WITH 2ND ARMY, 248TH AND 178TH FIELD ARTILLERY UNITS IN COMBAT AREAS FOR 20 MONTHS FIGHTING UP THE BOOT OF ITALY TO THE ALPS AS STAFF SERGEANT, RADIO OPERATOR WITH FORWARD OBSERVER UNIT. DISCHARGED NOVEMBER 3, 1945. PRESENTED CROIX DE GUERRE BY GENERAL OF THE ARMY (FRANCE) FOR EFFORT IN PENETRATING THE GUSTAV LINE NORTH OF CASSINO IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF FREE FRENCH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE; PURPLE HEART, CROIX DE GUERRE, EUROPEAN-AFRICA-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH ASSAULT ARROWHEAD AND 4 BATTLE STARS, AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL, EXPERT RIFLEMAN, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.