Veterans' Memorial Project

Jack Dudley Lawler

Paris, IL

World War II

College: Communications

Graduation Year: 1939

Service Branch: Air Force

Rank: Captain

Date of Birth: 06/20/1917

Date of Death: 03/24/1945

Captain Lawler entered active service in April, 1941, and went overseas in August, 1944. Captain Lawler served with the Airborne Infantry in Germany; he was killed during a paratroop drop when he landed in a tree and was shot by a German soldier.

-taken from Illinois Alumni News, July, 1945, and University and public records

The official version of how Jack was killed was in a jump. I talked to another relative that was a WWII vet and knew Jack personally. He talked to the men who was under (his nickname was Capt. Jack) his command and they said the official version is wrong. They were on foot patrol and were ambushed. Jack was cut down instantly. The relative telling me this also told me that he personally told Jack’s parents this information. I believe Jack’s father may have been President of a local bank in Paris, IL.

–submitted by Ron Beard, relative of Jack Dudley Lawler

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