https://vpiworldwarone.lib.vt.edu/files/original/6d62d5638388efee1f27310af5198418.jpg b3574be58874c6b0329ef4be1ccfd092 https://vpiworldwarone.lib.vt.edu/files/original/0e8f61de116e63300a495b6650bf91ad.jpg 6d6d539dcba741fc625016064317ba5d https://vpiworldwarone.lib.vt.edu/files/original/c5676cb77e9b58905f941508bd0964ae.tif b133c1bab2835ee6369fcaca3234eb99 https://vpiworldwarone.lib.vt.edu/files/original/1a7fa0ca868e4eaa38e59899c90a0fe0.tif f16af43f2a81038640490142fc9a6f70 https://vpiworldwarone.lib.vt.edu/files/original/0029d419753c80fcb16f5ee98ffc8c1d.tif 623a0511d937a2339128930dcfccc92f https://vpiworldwarone.lib.vt.edu/files/original/965f9ba711834b4fc49af1fa0a5fb414.jpg 6220e5aa46f0708dfee8f83ce0b932f4 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource VPI Class of 1916 Person An individual. Last Name Lawson First and Middle Name Charles Tell Hometown White Stone, Virginia County and/or State Lancaster, Virginia Nicknames or Other Names Tell Birth Date November 13, 1893 Birthplace White Stone, Virginia Death Date May 9, 1979 Cause of Death Age Place of Death Oakland, Michigan Parents Edward Everett Lawson and Rebecca Virginia Chase Siblings Katharine Anne Lawson, Emma Chase Lawson, and Francis William Seabury Lawson Spouse(s) Marion Lee Cundiff Lawson Children Helen Patricia Lawson VPI Graduating Class In what VPI class did this individual graduate or what class should they have graduated from? 1916 Undergraduate Major What did this individual major in while at VPI? Mechanical Engineering Graduated Yes or no, did this individual graduate from VPI? Yes Service Branch What branch of the military did this individual serve in? Marine Corps Unit What unit or ship did this individual serve in or on? 2nd Marines, company 51, 5th regiment Rank What military rank did this individual hold? 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant, Captain Retired Rank What military rank did this individual hold upon retirement? Captain Decorations or Citations None Military Events What significant military events occurred in this individual's life? Charles Tell Lawson served the Aisne-Marne Offensive, the St. Mihiel Offensive, and in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, which was the largest deployment of American soldiers so far in our nation’s history. This offensive, which took place in September of 1918, was credited as one of the final decisive blows in pushing the German’s toward an armistice. Additional Notes “War is a serious and inhuman affair at best, however, it is necessary when so much is at stake”-Lawson Postwar Life What did this individual do after the war? Immediately after the war, Lawson went on to train soldiers before he was discharged. In the following years, Lawson found employment as a mechanical engineer and moved to Pennsylvania and then Michigan Occupation Engineer at a manufacturing company Contributing Researchers Connor Skelly Biographical Text <div style="text-align:center;"><em>“War is a serious and inhuman affair at best, however,  it is necessary when so much is at stake.”</em></div> <div style="text-align:center;"><em>-Captain Charles Lawson</em></div> <p><span>Charles Tell Lawson, from Lancaster, Virginia, joined the Marine Corps on May 24, 1917 as a second lieutenant. After training at both Paris Island, South Carolina and Quantico, Virginia, Lawson and the rest of the 2nd Division departed for France on October 22, 1917. They arrived in the city of Brest on November 13, 1917. His unit continued to train in France until March 13-14, 1918 where they were deployed as reserves for the French Army in the area of the front line. On March 21, the Germans began a series of offensives which resulted to the Allied lines begin pushed to the brink of collapse. After the lines had stabilized, Lawson and the rest of the 2nd Division were ordered to push the Germans back.</span></p> <p><span>In this ensuing action, the 2nd Division and the United States Marine Corps as whole would earn fame at the Battle of Belleau-Wood. After five weeks of bloody, often hand to hand combat, the now hardened American Marines pushed the Germans out of the ground they had gained in the March offensives which had precipitated the Aisne-Marne Offensive.</span></p> <p><span>Lawson would go on to participate in every major American action of the war, most notably the massive Meuse-Argonne Offensive of October 1918.</span></p> <div> <p><span>Immediately after the war, Charles Lawson trained fellow Marines at the Quantico Marine Corps Base. Upon being discharged on January 30, 1919, Lawson returned to civilian life as a sales engineer with a company in Pennsylvania. Lawson married Marion L. Cundiff and raised one daughter.</span></p> <div><span> </span></div> </div> Battles or Engagements What battles or engagements was this individual involved in during World War One? Aisne-Marne Offensive (fought in the Battle of Bellau Wood), St. Mihiel Offensive, and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Lawson, Charles Tell questionnaire