Remember those who served
World War II vet celebrates 92nd birthday
During World War II, Aroostook State Normal School was closed as a teacher training institution, and used by members of the armed forces as an educational facility. Students from Aroostook County along with the principal, Clifford O. T. Wieden, were transferred to Washington State Normal School in Machias. My friend Betty Turner and I, both from Westfield, were two of the high school graduates of 1944 that were members of the first-year classes at WSNS.
Philip Lawrence 1945
The winter of 1945 was a time of fierce fighting for our soldiers overseas. We lost many of our friends that year, their lives taken as they were fighting for the Allied Forces.
Betty was still grieving the loss of her only brother, Robert (Bobby) Turner, a Westfield boy who was killed in the European Theater, when we received the call from our families with the news that my cousin, Philip Lawrence of Mars Hill, and a close friend of the Turners, was “missing in action.” He was with the Allied troops as they fought their way to Berlin.
Needless to say, it was a very sad time as we waited for further news, worrying and hoping for the best but expecting the worst. However, a few days later we were racing up and down the corridors of the dormitory telling everyone our joyous news that Phil had been returned to his unit. I’ll never forget what a wonderful feeling it was to know that Phil was alive and that there was one bit of good news during this period of constant worry and devastating losses.
When the war ended, Phil returned to his hometown, got his college degree and wife, Beryl Sturgis of Auburn, from “downstate.” Phil taught school and was the popular principal for many years at the Fort Street Elementary School in Mars Hill.
This World War II veteran and member of the Greatest Generation is still living with his wife, in his hometown, and he recently celebrated his 92nd birthday on Nov. 5 of this year.
Phil is a favorite cousin and one of those GIs who are still our heroes for serving their country when they were needed. He always has a story to tell (usually humorous), but never has much to say about those fearful few days when he was “missing in action.” I am sure that is another story.
Submitted by
Christine Lawrence Sawyer
Gorham