Robert Lee Lawler

Bio and photo courtesy of Andrew Pestle

Robert Lee Lawler was born in the rural village of West Union, Ohio, on August 22nd, 1895. He graduated from high school in about 1913 and eventually received 1 year of college education. Robert subsequently moved to Akron, OH, for employment purposes, and in 1917 was working as a tire finisher for the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in Akron. He denied any deferments from military service during the draft registration and indicated 19 months of prior service with the Ohio National Guard as a Private.

Robert was inducted into the US Army on April 1st, 1918, and initially assigned to the 158th Depot Brigade. He was soon reassigned to the 19th Company of the 4th Motor Mechanic Regiment and sailed overseas as a Private First Class on July 15th, 1918. The unit was briefly stationed in England but crossed the English Channel on August 12th.

A comprehensive unit history of the 4th Motor Mechanics remains unavailable, but it appears that the regiment was first tasked with the maintenance and repair of AEF vehicles. However, the unit was redesignated in September as the 4th Air Service Motor Mechanics of the US Army Signal Corps, and they were employed in the repair and maintenance of aircraft. This overseas photograph depicts Robert with PFC Morgan Burkam while stationed in France. Notice the Air Service pins affixed to their uniforms.

Robert was promoted to Corporal in May of 1919 and returned to the United States aboard the USS Rijndam on June 29th. He received an honorable discharge on July 14th and his service number was 1967577.

Robert returned to Ohio for a short period, but soon moved to Indiana. He first married in 1922 and was greeted with a baby girl born in 1925. Robert first worked at the Shawers Woodworking Plant in Bloomington, IN, followed by US Allied Radio in Indianapolis, and lastly the Rider Cabinet Factory in Monticello. He initially retired in 1960 but was elected as a court judge in 1962 and served four years in that position. Robert then worked as the White County Veterans Service Officer until 1983, before ill health prevented him from working. He was widowed twice in his life but remained quite active within his community. Robert was a member of the Kiwanis Club, Masonic Lodge, Monticello VFW, Scottish Rite, and the American Legion. He died at 89 years of age due to pneumonia and heart disease and is buried with a military headstone beside his first wife Beulah in the IOOF Riverview Cemetery of Monticello, Indiana.

https://www.findagrave.com/mem.../90510590/robert-lee-lawler