1st Lt. LAWRENCE R. BAGWELL

1st Lt. Lawrence R. Bagwell, US Army. He was the husband of Daisy Anderson Bagwell of Palestine, Texas, was born on Nov. 28, 1914. Previous to enlistment, he attended Prairie View College at Hempstead, Texas. He entered the Army on June 24, 1942, and was assigned to the Armored Force, He received his training at Fort Knox, Ky., He received his commission in Feb., 1943, and was promoted to 1st Lt. in Dec,,1944. He was sent overseas in August, 1944, served in the European Theater. He participated in the battles of Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe, and commanded a platoon of tanks for the 26th Infantry Division. This was the first Bn. to reach the first objective of the Div. and was also the first African American Tank Bn. to be committed to combat. He returned to the U.S. in Dec,, 1945, and release from service was given him on March 10, 1946.

1-.Fighting Men of Texas book 3