Bandstand Flag – October 2019
Lawrence W. Everett
October 2019
Lawrence W. Everett
November 2, 1920, June 28, 2019
United States Army Air Corps.
The flag flying over the bandstand during October is in honor of Lawrence Everett.
A Lacey High School 1938 graduate, Lawrence worked on the farm until beginning a two-year agriculture program at Iowa State College in 1940. While there he was in ROTC. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in September 1942 and was called to active duty February 23, 1943. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and served as a bombardier in a B-24. His crew received their B-24 in July at Hamilton Field (San Francisco). They left California and flew to Omaha, then, having telephoned Lawrence’s parents, circled their farm in Iowa twice, and dropped a note that was later found by a neighbor. They continued to Newfoundland, Iceland, and then on to England. He was assigned to the 8th Air Force, 458th Bomber Group, 753rd and then 755th Squadron, lead crew. He flew 29 missions and received the Good Conduct Medal, the Air Medal with 3 clusters, Air Lead Crew Commendation, and the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). The DFC was awarded for exceptional performance as Lead Bombardier on many missions over occupied territory and Germany. On one mission he recognized a navigation error of the wing lead bomber and convinced his bomber group commander of the error, resulting in saving that bomber group from intense anti-aircraft fire. Their crew was made the wing lead bomber the following mission, and their squadron dropped 83% of its bombs in a 500 ft. circle on the target. He returned to the U.S. for short assignments after V.E. Day and was inactivated in October 1945. He was promoted to Captain while in the inactive reserves.
Upon returning to Iowa, Lawrence enrolled at Iowa State College in the Farm Operation B.S. program and completed his degree in 1948. He and his new bride, Beverly, then moved to a farm owned by Lawrence’s mother near Lacey. They later moved to a nearby acreage and expanded their operation.
Throughout his lifetime, Lawrence was active with 4-H, the North Mahaska School Board, Lacey Methodist Church Board, Farm Bureau which included being the Mahaska County Farm Bureau President and a director on the State Farm Bureau Board. He also belonged to the Mahaska County Land Fill Commission, Mahaska County Hospital Board of Trustees (23 years), Ruritan, and the Oskaloosa Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee.
If you are interested in flying the flag of a veteran above the bandstand, contact Shawn Langkamp at Langkamp Funeral Chapel & Crematory at 641-672-2181 or www.langkampfuneralchapel.com Contact Us Link.
