LAWRENCE, CHARLES Sept 29, 1944 age 20 KIA Europe

CHARLES ROBERT LAWRENCE  b. July 12, 1924 Detroit d. Sept 28, 1944

Killed in Action Europe

Tec5 36596319 Army 246^th Engineer Combat Bn “B” Company

 

Buried:  Henri-Chapelle Cemetery, Liege, Belgium

Parents: Charles & Fannie (Millard)

Siblings: Jean, Frank G., Donald   

Charles Sr. was born in Canada and Fannie in New York. He worked as a truck driver and lived at 14036 Bentler when son Charles went to Redford; house is now boarded up.

Young Charles graduated Redford in June 1942 and that same year in Dec. registered for the draft, 145 lbs, 5’8” with blue eyes and brown hair. A year later on Dec. 6, 1943 he married Sarah Hegwood and they moved to Monroe, MI, birthplace of George Custer.

Sketch of Maastricht bridge

An engineer combat battalion (WCB) was the designation for a battalion strength combat engineering unit in the Army. The 247^th Bn drove to the Albert Canal and with the 246^th ECB and two batteries of anti-aircraft artillery held the line of the Albert Canal until they were relieved by armor and infantry 4 days later. As soon as they were relieved of their infantry role they resumed engineering duties with one company building a 180 foot Bailey bridge over the canal and two companies building a reinforced heavy pontoon bridge over the Maas River.



Repaired Bridge

On the 25^th of Sept the Battalion started constructing the longest Bailey Bridge constructed in continental Europe – a 640 foot bridge. One span of the bridge weighing 284,240 pounds was constructed in only 36 working hours. This 190 foot Triple-Triple Bailey span still serves the people of Maastricht, Holland.




Henri-Chapelle Cemetery was established Sept 1044 by the 1^st Infantry Div of the 1^st Army as a combat burial site. The cemetery and memorial were completed in 1960.

Charles received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart.