Wesley Calvin Lawson was born on 1 December 1928 to James Carl Lawson and Carsie Lee Cook

Sergeant First Class Lawson was a member of the 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea.

Buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, Kingsport, TN

The Kingsport Times, December 18, 1951
The Defense Department has notified relatives here of the death of Wesley C. Lawson, 23, killed in action in Korea on Dec. 4. Lawson and his wife, Mrs. Mary Bullis Lawson, 122 E. Sevier St., were married last March 31. Two days later he was ordered to leave for Seattle, Wash., and from there he was shipped to Korea on April 14. Sgt. Lawson was a guard during the peace talks at Munsan about a month ago. His last letter to Mary was written on December 2. He was back at the front, Yanggu, with a heavy artillery outfit, manning a mortar gun. His only comment about the fighting at that time was, “It’s pretty tough!” Wesley Lawson graduated from Dobyns-Bennett in 1947. He was employed at Mead Corp. before entering the service in November, 1950. His father, Carl D. Lawson, lives at 122 E. Sevier St. His mother, Mrs. C.L. Evans, lives in Johnson City.

The Kingsport Times, July 1, 1952
Mrs. Mary E. Lawson, 122 E. Sevier Street, is seen receiving the Silver Star medal from Col. John M. Ferguson. The late Sgt. Wesley C. Lawson was awarded the Silver Star for distinguishing himself by gallantry in action near Hwasoho, Korea.

  • Rank: Sergeant First Class
  • Date of birth:
  • 1 December 1928
  • Date of death: 4 December 1951
  • County: Sullivan
  • Hometown: Kingsport
  • Service Branch: Army
  • Division/Assignment: 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division
  • Conflict: Korean War
  • Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantrymans Badge, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and Republic of Korea War Service Medal
  • Burial/Memorial Location: Oak Hill Cemetery, Kingsport, TN
  • Location In Memorial: Pillar XXI, Middle Panel
  • Contact us to sponsor Wesley C. Lawson

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