Edward "Bud" Arnold Lawson

Jeremy Anderson2020-12-17T11:06:37-06:00

Name: Edward "Bud" Arnold Lawson
Location of Birth: Grand Rapids, Minnesota
Date of Birth: August 20, 1924
Date of Death: April 9, 1987
Parents: Arnold Lawson & Mabel (Luce) Lawson
High School and Class: 1943 Greenway High School, Coleraine, Minnesota
College:
Highest Rank: S l (Seaman First Class)
Branch: Navy
Other Branch:
Date Sworn In: July 6, 1943
Place Sworn In:
Date of Discharge: March 21, 1946
Place of Discharge:
Military Awards:

Military Highlights:
WW II Draft Registration Cards – 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947
State: Minnesota
Name: Edward Arnold Lawson
Race: White
Age: 18
Birth Date: August 20, 1924
Birth Place: Grand Rapids, Itasca, Minnesota, USA
Residence Place: Taconite, Itasca, Minnesota, USA
Registration Date: December 11, 1942
Employer: School bus driver, Coleraine, Minnesota
Complexion: Dark
Eye Color: Hazel
Hair Color: Black
Next of Kin: Mr. & Mrs. Arnold Lawson

Newspaper article: February 1945 – “Bud Lawson, S 2/c, was called back to the Bremerton Navy yards in Washington Sunday. He ships aboard the U.S. Tennessee that has been in dry dock for repairs following the battle of Leyte.”

Newspaper article: April 1945 – “Aboard a U.S. battleship off Okinawa (Delayed) – Edward A. Lawson, seaman second class, USNR, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Lawson, live in Taconite, Minn., fought aboard this floating fortress as she threw steel at the Japanese on Okinawa in the week-long bombardment that cleared the beaches for invading troops. So deadly were her big guns that troops encountered no enemy fire in the areas she covered. During the pre-invasion bombardment, guns of this ship and others of the Pacific Fleet knocked out enemy gun emplacements back of the beaches. Secondary batteries combed the landing areas, exploring every suspicious hill and clump of trees. On the morning of D-day, the deluge of shells pouring onto the island was intensified. Smoke was so thick it screened troops pushing inland to their objectives. Every man was at his battle station for many hours that day. Not until box lunches came up from the galley did many of the fighting crew remember that D-day was also Easter Sunday. Packed neatly in each box was a bright touch of home, Easter eggs in rainbow hues.”

Newspaper article: September 1945 – “Edward A. Lawson, S 1/c, writes from Okinawa: “Dear Friends: Thought I would write you a few lines to thank you for the many things you have done for me since I left home. Yesterday I received the picture of the washing plant at Bovey, and a paper a few days ago. I want you to know I appreciate these; also the numerous other papers, pictures and cards you have sent. Now that they have stopped censoring our letters, I thought I’d be able to write quite a bit, but as usual I can’t think of anything to write. We are at Okinawa and I’ve been trying to see ‘Rinky’ Gustafson, who I believe is here, but as yet have had no luck. As I said before this was going to be a few lines so I guess I’ll sign off for now. Thanks again for everything. One of the boys, Bud.”

Wars Involved:
World War II

MIA / POW:

Civilian Life:
Edward Lawson was very active in hockey with the Taconite Hornet Hockey Team. He was employed in the iron mines as a lab technician and surveyor. He spent 16 years as a driver for Grand Rapids, Michigan Transit, and then spent 6 years as manager of Muskegon Transit at Muskegon, Michigan. He spent 14 years as Director of Operation for Joliet, Illinois Mass Transit System, retiring in 1986 and had the facility named after him upon his retirement. He moved to Talmoon, Itasca Co., Minnesota upon retirement. He was a member of the Salvation Army, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Harwood American Legion Post, Joliet, Illinois; and Dale Athletic Club at Rockdale, Illinois.

Bud died at his home in rural Itasca County and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Lake Jessie Township, Itasca County, Minnesota. He is survived by his wife, Joanna; former wife, Betty Lawson; six daughters, Kelsy Larson, Sally (Jeffrey) Spykerman; Peggy (Tim) Eckert; Amber (Brian) Findlay; Heidi Lawson, and Tracy Lawson; two sons, Charles and Peter; his father, Arnold Lawson, one brother, Kenneth; and thirteen grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mabel Lawson and his brother, Robert Lawson.

Tribal Affiliation(s):