THE WALL OF FACES

Jack was raised in Farmington, NH, where he was graduated in 1956 from Farmington High School. He attended the University of New Hampshire for a year before entering the United States Military Academy with the Class of 1961, graduating in June of that year. He chose Artillery as his branch and he served two tours of duty in Vietnam. Between those tours, he was assigned as an instructor in the ROTC Program at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

On his first tour in Vietnam he served as the Civil Affairs Officer (S-5), 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. During Operation Cedar Falls in January of 1967, the Brigade Intelligence Officer (S-2) approached him with a Viet Cong prisoner who claimed to know the location of a weapons cache. Jack led a small patrol to find the find the cache and discovered that it was in a tunnel complex. Since he had no "tunnel rats" (tunnel clearing personnel) available, Jack took it upon himself to enter the complex, where he discovered a substantial enemy weapons cache. For his action and conspicuous valor, he was awarded the Silver Star.

Jack returned to Vietnam in November of 1970 as a member of MACV's Advisory Team 91 in Binh Duong Province. On 16 September 1971, the District Personnel Officer (S-1) was ambushed en route to a meeting at Province Headquarters. Jack, by now a Major, assembled an ad hoc unit to relieve the ambushed group, but as his relief column moved to the aid of their beleaguered comrades, they too were ambushed. Jack was in the lead and was severely wounded in the initial exchange, but he succeeded in repulsing the Viet Cong assault before being mortally wounded. Thereafter, his unit successfully broke out of their dire situation and joined friendly forces. Jack was posthumously awarded his second Silver Star for his courageous actions.

Say not in grief he is no more, but live in thankfulness that he was.

The “Friends of Rocky Versace” once again remember one of Rocky’s fellow alumni from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point - a Yearling in Cadet Company A-2, USCC when Rocky was a Firstie in Co. K-2 - Major John Winslow Lawrence Jr., USMA class of 1961, on what would’ve been his 83rd birthday - 22 January 2021.

Dear Major John Lawrence, Thank you for your service as an Operations & Training Staff Officer, and for graduating from West Point. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. For many of us, we have begun Lent. The time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

The “Friends of Rocky Versace” once again remember one of Rocky’s fellow alumni from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Major John Winslow Lawrence Jr., USMA class of 1961, on what would’ve been his 81st birthday - 22 January 2019.