Widow donates medals to archives
Franklin County Archives and Research Center director Chris Ozbirn looks at the medals received by Sgt. Paul H. Lawler during the Korean War. Lawler’s widow, Fay, donated the items to the archives this week.| Nathan Strickland/FCT
A Franklin County native who received a purple heart for wounds sustained in the Korean War will now be remembered through the Franklin County Archives.
A photograph of Sgt. Paul H. Lawler, who served with E Company, 9th Infantry, U.S. Army during the Korean War in the early 1950s, and his medals including the Purple Heart, Distinguished Service Medal, National Defense Medal and a medal signifying his service in the Korean War was framed by his wife, Fay, and presented to the archives on Monday.
Lawler, who passed away at the age of 49 on June 9, 1979, was awarded the Purple Heart 58 years after his discharge papers from the U.S. Army were filed in 1951.
The Purple Heart medal is awarded to military personnel for “Being wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States or as a result of an act of any such enemy or opposing armed forces.”
The Purple Heart ranks just below the Bronze Star in the prestigious line of military awards. The Award Certificate for the Purple Heart medal states that the medal is awarded through the President and signed by the Adjutant General and Secretary of the Army.
Fay Lawler said the proper paperwork was filled out through the Veteran Affairs office and, luckily, it was enough.
Fay said many people try to plead their case to receive the medal but most are unsuccessful.
“He (Paul) never really liked to talk much about his war experiences to me but I’ve seen the scars on his stomach where something had happened,” she said.
“I’m happy that the military has honored him with these medals and now I would like for those who have never seen these medals before to have the chance to view them.”
Fay said it means the world to her to be able to keep her husband’s memory alive.
“It means very much to me to be able to share with those who have never seen a purple heart in person. This is just what I wanted to do with his medals because I know it will be taken care of there and will probably be doing some good there,” she said.
“I received a very nice leather-bound book that tells about the awards my husband received and I will probably pass that on down through the family.”
Archives director Chris Ozbirn was astounded and filled with joy when Lawler made the donation to the archives.
“For someone to be this generous to give this to us for people to see is just amazing to me,” she said. “Most of the time all we get are pictures, which there is nothing wrong with that we love getting all kinds of pieces of history, but getting medals is something that has never happened.”
Ozbirn said in the past they have received patches with emblems of medals, but never have been able to receive the real thing.
Archives volunteer Harold Miller said medals are the highest honors in the military.
“These type of medals are very valuable and sacred to families and that is why we hardly ever get any donated here,” he said.
Paul H. Lawler’s picture and medals are framed together and will be hung along with other men who have served their country in the “Hall of Honor” at the archives.
