(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander William Porter Lawrence (NSN: 0-543032), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as a pilot attached to and serving as Commanding Officer of Fighting Squadron ONE HUNDRED FORTY-THREE (VF-143) in U.S.S. CONSTELLATION (CVA-64) as an element leader, in action in Southeast Asia in June 1967. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Naval Service.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
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Bronze Star Medal
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Prisoner of War Medal
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Silver Star
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Silver Star
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Legion of Merit
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Rear AdmiralDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
June 1967 – March 1973
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral William Porter Lawrence (NSN: 0-543032), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States, as the Senior Ranking Officer of Camp Vegas Prisoner of War Camp and at various intervals other cellblocks from June 1967 to March 1973. By his diligent efforts, perseverance, devotion and loyalty to the United States, and under the most adverse conditions, he resisted all attempts by the North Vietnamese to use him in causes detrimental to the United States. He provided superb leadership and guidance to his fellow prisoners of war during extended periods of severe pressures from his captors in their attempt to gain formation for propaganda purposes. Formulating firm and explicit guidelines, he set a pattern of resistance for all to follow. His extraordinary courage, resourcefulness, and sound judgment reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Navy Service and the United States Armed Force.
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Vice AdmiralAction Date:
August 1978 – August 1981
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Vice Admiral William Porter Lawrence (NSN: 0-543032), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States, as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy from August 1978 to August 1981. Responsible for the Navy’s only undergraduate institution which is also the principal source of career officers of the Naval Service, Vice Admiral Lawrence guided the Academy to new levels of excellence and mission achievement. Under his supervision, the Academy produced graduated better prepared morally, mentally, and physically than ever before. As a result of Vice Admiral Lawrence’s superlative leadership, extraordinary insight, and boundless personal energy, the Naval Academy experienced a three year period of stability and program fruition, operated with unprecedented efficiency, and established precepts for its future growth in total consonance with the needs of the service. By his innovative management techniques, matchless professional performance, and inspiring devotion to duty, Vice Admiral Lawrence reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Vice AdmiralAction Date:
August 1981 – September 1983
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Vice Admiral William Porter Lawrence (NSN: 0-543032), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States, as Commander of Third Fleet from August 1981 to September 1983. His singularly distinctive accomplishments and his dedicated contributions in the service of his country reflect the highest credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Rear AdmiralDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
January 1968 – March 1969
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Rear Admiral William Porter Lawrence (NSN: 0-543032), United States Navy, for meritorious service as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from January 1968 to March 1969 and from January to December 1970. Through his ceaseless efforts, in an atmosphere of enemy harassment, threat of torture and brutal treatment, he established and maintained intra-camp communications. At great risk and in spite of further cruelty, he continued to devise many unusual and ingenious methods in communications, resulting in American and Allied prisoners resisting the enemy’s demands and at the same time improving the prisoners’ morale. By his heroic endeavors, exceptional skill, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. (Rear Admiral Lawrence is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)
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Prisoner of War Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CaptainDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
June 28, 1967 – March 4, 1973
Captain William Porter Lawrence (NSN: 0-543032), United States Navy, was held as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from June 28, 1967 until his release on March 4, 1973.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Rear AdmiralDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
July – August 1969
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star to Rear Admiral William Porter Lawrence (NSN: 0-543032), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from July to August 1969. Rear Admiral Lawrence’s captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected him to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion, Rear Admiral Lawrence reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Rear AdmiralDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
June 28, 1967
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Rear Admiral William Porter Lawrence (NSN: 0-543032), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam on 28 June 1967. Rear Admiral Lawrence’s captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected him to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion, Rear Admiral Lawrence reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.
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Legion of Merit
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Rear Admiral William Porter Lawrence (NSN: 0-543032), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Director, Aviation Programs Division from May 1975 to June 1977 and as Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air Warfare) from July 1977 to August 1978. While so assigned, Rear Admiral Lawrence consistently demonstrated superior professional ability and was directly responsible for numerous important advancements in Naval Aviation. He promoted the establishment of methods for equating applied resources to achieved readiness which increased significantly aircraft operational readiness and he personally supervised readiness improvement programs for the CH-53, CH-46, F-14, S-3, and A-3 aircraft. Rear Admiral Lawrence also made noteworthy contributions to the aircrew survivability program and was involved in the development of the automatic parachute divestment and automatically actuated flotation devices. These achievements coupled with his determined efforts to increase available flight hours for fleet aircrew training enhanced materially the safety posture and high state of readiness enjoyed by Naval Aviation. Rear Admiral Lawrence’s dynamic leadership, sterling personal example, and selfless devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Captain [then Commander]Batallion:
Fighter Squadron 143 (VF-143)Division:
U.S.S. Constellation (CVA-64)Action Date:
June 23, 1967
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain [then Commander] William Porter Lawrence (NSN: 0-543032), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 23 June 1967, while serving as Commanding Officer of Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FORTY-THREE (VF-143), embarked in U.S.S. CONSTELLATION (CVA-64), during aerial combat operations in Southeast Asia. Captain Lawrence led a coordinated strike against the heavily defended railroad yard and thermal power plant at Nam Dinh, North Vietnam. He guided the strike group through a barrage of radar-directed anti-aircraft fire of all calibers, continuous surface-to-air missile radar tracking, and the threat of airborne enemy fighters. In addition to fulfilling his strike leader responsibilities, Captain Lawrence also served as navigational pathfinder and leader of the flak-suppression effort, personally silencing the multiple-gun emplacement which posed the primary threat to the force. Under his tactical leadership, and freed from the harassment of the intense enemy fire, the strike group inflicted extensive damage and destruction upon this important target. During the attack, Captain Lawrence positioned his section as Target Combat Air Patrol between the strike group and the enemy fighter threat, remaining on station to monitor bomb damage and element coordination until all other aircraft had safely retired. His airmanship, resourcefulness, and courageous dedication were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Vice AdmiralAction Date:
September 1983 – January 1986
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Vice Admiral William Porter Lawrence (NSN: 0-543032), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States, as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Manpower, Personnel and Training/Chief of Naval Personnel from September 1983 through January 1986. During this period, Vice Admiral Lawrence demonstrated dynamic leadership, outstanding managerial ability, exceptional foresight, and perseverance in anticipating and resolving complex manpower and personnel problems confronting the Navy. Vice Admiral Lawrence was a champion of the Navy’s men and women. His deep concern for their welfare was manifested in the many programs devised and executed to improve compensation, quality of life, educational programs, promotion opportunity, and career attractiveness. Vice Admiral Lawrence’s dedicated service, brilliant record of achievement, and selfless devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.