William P. Lawrence | |
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![]() Lawrence in September 1983 | |
Nickname(s) | "Bill" |
Born | Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. | January 13, 1930
Died | December 2, 2005 Crownsville, Maryland, U.S. | (aged 75)
Buried | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1951–1986 |
Rank | Vice Admiral |
Commands | United States Pacific Fleet United States Naval Academy United States Third Fleet Chief of Naval Personnel Fighter Squadron 143 |
Battles/wars | Korean War Vietnam War |
Awards | Navy Distinguished Service Medal (4) Silver Star (3) Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart (2) Air Medal (3) |
Relations | Captain Wendy B. Lawrence (daughter) |
Other work | President of the Association of Naval Aviation |
William Porter "Bill" Lawrence (January 13, 1930 – December 2, 2005) was a decorated United States Navy vice admiral and Naval Aviator who served as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy from 1978 to 1981. Lawrence was a noted pilot, the first Naval Aviator to fly twice the speed of sound in a naval aircraft, and one of the final candidates for the Mercury space program.[1] During the Vietnam War, Lawrence was shot down while on a combat mission and spent six years as a prisoner of war, from 1967 to 1973. During this time, he became noted for his resistance to his captors.