Lawrence A. Roberts
Born: Loon Lake, New York, 1924
Enlistment: Drafted
S/N: 32846926
Unit: A company, 299th Combat Engineer Battalion,
Rank: Private First Class
KIA: In the first wave of landings on Omaha Beach
Resting Place: Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, France
The following text and images have been generously shared with us by Alan and Dale Roberts, Lawrence Roberts' nephews. Alan D. Roberts writes:
Lawrence, one of twelve children, was born in Loon Lake, New York in 1924. Many of his older siblings had grown up, married, started families, and relocated to the Auburn, New York. Lawrence moved to this area (Saranac Lake) in the early 1940s and was staying with his sister's family and attended Port Byron High School and then worked in the defense industry in Auburn. He was inducted into the service in Auburn and was placed in the 299th Combat Engineer Battalion with many other young soldiers from the Auburn to Buffalo, New York region.
Lawrence before the war in Auburn, NY
In 2009 I found a web site for the 299th Combat Engineer Battalion and made an inquiry to the web administrator as to whether any of the members had any recollections of my uncle and the events of D-Day. I received a response from Mr. Michael Accordino who was in the same platoon and landing craft as Lawrence. His response was as follows:
March 13, 2009
Dear Alan,
Lawrence was in A Company and in my platoon. His job on landing was to destroy the obstacles that were at the waters edge. The team consisted of 5 Army and 7 or 8 Navy men. The army men,all from A Company were Bill Scanlon, Carl Davies, Kenneth Fatty, Lawrence Roberts, all KIAs and Dominic Debenedetto. Dom was wounded is from Auburn, NY and is involved in the ceremonies (Note: 299th Reunions). I was in the same assault boat #12,with this group. The rest of the men, about 20, moved away from the water's edge to other obstacles on the beach. I believe they layed [sic] their charges on the obstacles and they went off prematurely. Four or five Navy men were killed and a few wounded. I remember your Uncle, but can't tell to much about him. All this happened 65 years ago this June. I may have a picture of your Uncle and an A Company group picture taken in Ft.Pierce,FL. I winter in Florida and will be able to search for them when I return to Buffalo in May. My wife and I plan to be in Auburn this June.
Sincerely,
Michael Accordino
In 1994 for the 50th Anniversary of a D-Day a plaque honoring Lawrence and five others who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country that day from the 299th, was dedicated at the Cayuga County Courthouse in Auburn NY. A reunion was held of the 299th Combat Engineer Battalion and my mother, Martile (Midge) Roberts, was an invited guest to represent the Roberts family at this event. She met many of the veterans who served with Lawrence on that historic day and they shared their experiences and recollections with her. I should have written down or somehow recorded some of this information she received as not long after this reunion my mother passed away.
Lawrence Roberts rests in Plot I, Row 13, Grave 8 of the American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, June 4, 2005
Chateaugay Record News Report - July 7, 1944
On the day Daddy and I visited Lawrence's grave we took several pictures. This is one of them.
Thank you Lawrence.
I would like to thank Alan and Dale Roberts for sharing the story of their uncle with me and for generously giving me the permission to use their text and photos for this special Memorial Day blog post.
D-Day photo copyright Robert Capa / Magnum Photos
I promise to remember.