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| Duty
Position(s): Sentinel Relief Commander Relief: Brief Army History: Units: |
Personal gallery |
| Awards
/ Decorations: Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award) Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd Award) National Defense Service Medal Tomb Guard Identification Badge |
Campaigns: |
Highest Rank:
Staff Sergeant |
| Home
City / State: Columbia, SC |
Date of Birth: |
After the Army:
Upon my discharge from the US Army, I was employed by the Department of
Defense as a civilian investigator with the Defense Investigative Service (DIS).
I worked with them from June 1978 until February 1983 in my hometown of
Columbia, SC.
In 1983, I was hired by the University of South Carolina (USC) Police Department, also in Columbia, SC. I have worked for USC ever since and I am currently the Deputy Director in charge of Investigations and Management Services.
Current
Occupation:
Deputy Director, Investigations & Management Services, University of South
Carolina
Family:
I married my childhood sweetheart, Suzy, and we live happily in West
Columbia, SC. I have two children, Lawrence II and Stephanie, who live in
Phoenix, AZ. I also have six grandchildren.
Degrees/Schooling:
Bachelor of Science, College of Criminal Justice, University of South Carolina
Graduate, Southern Police Institute, University of Louisville
Graduate, South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy
Most Memorable Moment at Tomb:
Christmas is always a special day, even in Arlington National
Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. However, because most people
are at home enjoying the holiday with family and loved ones, the cemetery does
not have its normal large crowd of visitors. Because there are hardly no
other visitors to the Unknowns, the guards have established their own
long-standing tradition of laying a wreath at the Tomb on Christmas Day.
Tradition has it that the "newest" badge holder assists in the solemn
ceremony by presenting the wreath to the "oldest" badge holder who
represents all Tomb Guards in honor of the ultimate sacrifice made by the
Unknown. The "oldest badge" holder is always escorted by the
Sergeant of the Guard. (The "newest" and "oldest"
badge holder is in terms of when one received the Tomb Guard Identification
Badge--not in terms of physical age or length of military service.)
On Christmas Day 1974, I happened to be the "oldest" badge holder and
was honored to be the Tomb Guards' representative as we took time to remember
our fallen comrade. I was escorted to the wreath by the Sergeant of the
Guard, Master Sergeant William R. Rucker, and we were accompanied by all others
who were assigned to Tomb Guard duty at that time. It was an
extremely solemn occasion and I took great pride in being able to participate.
It is a day I will never forget.
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