James F. Lawrence

LAWRENCE
JAMES F. LAWRENCE, BGen, USMC (Ret.)

JAMES FUGATE LAWRENCE, 88, Brigadier General, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.), decorated veteran of World War II and the Korean War, died on September 18, 2006 at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. He lived at The Fairfax, a retirement community near Fort Belvoir, VA. General Lawrence was born in Grainger County, TN. He served with the 1st Marine Division at Guadalcanal in 1942 and in Korea in 1950. For that service, he received the Navy Cross, the nation's second highest award for valor. He completed 30 years of active Marine Corps service on the staff of the Secretary of Defense as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs and Director of the Department of Defense Office of Legislative Liaison. For service in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, he received the Distinguished Service Medal, the nation's highest non-combat award, and a Gold Star in lieu of a second award. Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Diana Lawrence of Ft. Belvoir; three children, Darrie Lawrence of New York, James Lawrence of Chevy Chase, MD and Richard Lawrence of Wilmington, NC; a brother, Robert Lawrence of Asheville, NC, and seven grandchildren. Interment will occur on a later date at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, P.O. Box 998, Quantico, VA 22134-0998; or United Community Ministries, 7511 Fordson Road, Alexandria, VA 22306.