Burnet Bulletin, 5 April 1945
Killed in Action. Mrs. J. D. Lawson last Wednesday received word from the War Department that her husband, Pfc. J. D. Lawson was killed in action on March 22 on Biiak Island in the Netherland East Indies. He had been in the army for quite a while, and overseas seven months. Mr. Lawson is survived by his wife and baby girl and other relatives. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. O.I. Lawson of Route No. 1, Burnet, and a graduate of the Burnet High School. Both his wife and mother received letters from him on the same date that the war Department reported him killed.
The Fighting Men of Texas, A History of the Second World War, Vol. 5, 1948, Historical Publishing Company, Dallas, Texas
page 2204. Pfc. J. D. Lawson was born on Jan. 29, 1921. Mr. and Mrs. O. I. Lawson of Burnet are his parents, and Mrs. Lela Catherine Lawson is his wife. On Sept 18, 1942, he entered the Army at San Antonio, and received his training at Hammer Field, Camp Pinedale, and Hamilton Field. He was assigned to the 1562nd A.A.F., Air Transport Command, going overseas on Sept. 25, 1944. He was stationed at Hickam Field, Hawaii, first, then later was sent to Biak Island in the Netherland East Indies. The "Meritorious Service Unit Plaque", and the Good Conduct Medals were awarded to him before he lost his life, due to enemy action, at Biak on the 22nd of March 1945. He is survived by a daughter, Charlotte Ann, who was born on June 17, 1944
