Grew Up In:

Ambridge, PA

Rank, Service:

U.S. Army, Staff Sergeant

Years Served:

1941-1944

Places Served:

Camp Meade, Camp Blanding, England, HMS Empire Javelin, Normandy, France (Dog Green, Omaha Beach: D-Day)

Story:

SSG Lawrence Martin fought on Omaha Beach on D-Day. With his unit leadership dead in the water, he led the remnants of his company off of the beach. He fought for 10 days before being killed by enemy artillery on 16 June 1944. He is buried in Normandy, France. Two of his cousins (one killed in Germany and another in Italy) are buried in Luxembourg. Lawrence was posthumously awarded the CIB and Bronze Star in 2025. At the ceremony, the original gold star flag (48-stars) given to his mother was refolded.