My dad was a prisoner of war in World War II. Through him I met many heroes. Some had stories that were unforgettable.
I met Bill Lawrence in the 1980s. He was visiting my parents’ house following a trip to the Great Smokies. He was a tall, lanky man, well spoken with a strong handshake and a ready smile.
Bill Lawrence grew up in Nashville. He was bright, athletic, and ended up excelling at the U. S. Naval Academy where he graduated in 1951. Later that year, he started training as a naval aviator. In 1952 he deployed to Korea aboard the USS Oriskany, piloting the F2H Banshee. He later became a test pilot and made it to the finals of the Mercury astronaut selection. He was eliminated because of a heart valve issue.
By 1967 Cmdr. Bill Lawrence oversaw Fighter Squadron 143 that flew missions over North Vietnam from the USS Constellation. During a raid, his aircraft, an F4B-Phantom 2, was hit by an 85 mm round that broke off its tail. Bill and his radar interceptor managed to release the payload before they were forced to eject. They were both taken as prisoners of war and held captive at the infamous Hanoi Hilton.
In the six years of his imprisonment Bill was known as a resister, enduring inhumane torture. He memorized the name and rank of every POW there, developed a communication tapping system and mentally composed poetry. In March 1973, he was one of the 593 men released in Operation Homecoming.
He came home to find his wife had divorced him and remarried. He rebuilt his life and his career, continuing to serve his country and remarrying in 1974.
Bill Lawrence rose in rank, holding positions of major responsibility, and receiving many honors and awards. Positions he held within the Navy included: Commander of the Third Fleet at Pearl Harbor, and Chief of Naval Personnel. He was called by many the “Sailor’s Admiral.”
Bill Lawrence’s final post was the Superintendent of the U. S. Naval Academy. He was there until his retirement in 1986. His daughter graduated from there in 1981. Wendy Lawrence went on to be a naval aviator like her father and then an astronaut, flying several space shuttle missions.
Over the years Bill Lawrence sponsored workshops and talked with ex POW groups, especially those in Tennessee. He successfully lobbied for benefits. He also became personal friends with many, my dad included.
Admiral William Porter “Bill” Lawrence passed away in 2005 and is buried at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Md.
Bill Lawrence had a distinguished and respected career in the Navy, but what he is best known for in Tennessee is a poem he composed while in the Hanoi Hilton.
After his release from captivity in 1973, he traveled to Tennessee where he met with then Gov. Winfield Dunn and presented him with a poem about his beloved home state of Tennessee. He had composed the poem during a 60-day period of solitary confinement. In 1973, the State Legislature of Tennessee adopted it as our state poem:
Oh Tennessee, My Tennessee
Oh Tennessee, My Tennessee
What Love and Pride I Feel for Thee.
You Proud Ole State, the Volunteer,
Your Proud Traditions I Hold Dear.
I Revere Your Heroes
Who Bravely Fought our Country’s Foes.
Renowned Statesmen, so Wise and Strong,
Who Served our Country Well and Long.
I Thrill at Thought of Mountains Grand;
Rolling Green Hills and Fertile Farm Land;
Earth Rich with Stone, Mineral and Ore;
Forests Dense and Wild Flowers Galore;
Powerful Rivers that Bring us Light;
Deep Lakes with Fish and Fowl in Flight;
Thriving Cities and Industries;
Fine Schools and Universities;
Strong Folks of Pioneer Descent,
Simple, Honest, and Reverent.
Beauty and Hospitality
Are the Hallmarks of Tennessee.
And O’er the World as I May Roam,
No Place Exceeds my Boyhood Home.
And Oh How Much I Long to See
My Native Land, My Tennessee.
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