Detachment History
1st Lt. Andrew F. Lawhon
History of the Andrew F. Lawhon Detachment
The Tupelo detachment of the Marine Corps League was chartered on Dec. 8, 2005. The Andrew F. Lawhon detachment was named for Andrew Ferrell Lawhon. He was born 22 Nov 1919 in Verona, MS. He was the third of four sons. All of which served in World War II.
He attended and graduated from Verona High School in 1939. He attended Mississippi State University (then a state college) and played right field for the bulldogs. He enlisted in 1941 and was sent to officer candidate school in Quantico, VA. On 10 Dec 1942, he married Geraldine Franks of Tupelo. Their son, Andy Paul Lawhon was born 9 Oct 1943.
Early in 1944 1st Lt. Lawhon, Company E, 24th Marines, Fourth Marine, Fourth Marine Division shipped out for the south Pacific. 1st Lt. Lawhon saw action on Kwqjaline atoll, Rio Namur Island and was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry action under fire. His next action wa on Siapan, in the Mariann Island. It was there that 1st Lt. Lawhon and several of his platoon were killed by a Japanese mortar shell.
1st Lt. Lawhon’s body was brought home to Verona in August, 1948 and is buried at Old Chapel Cemetery in Brewer, MS. 1st Lt. Lawhon’s son, Andy still resides on the family farm in Verona. His mother remarried and had two more sons.
