Alaska State Senate
News from the Office of Senator Jerry Ward

Senator Jerry Ward
716 West 4th Avenue, Suite 450
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Phone: (907) 258-8183
Fax: (907) 258-0820

No Records of Military Service Found for $10 Million Dollar Contributor, to National Democratic Party, Buried in Arlington National Cemetery

For Immediate Release: December 5, 1997. Contact Senator Jerry Ward at (907) 258-8183

Anchorage - In a statement made Thursday, Congressman Terry Everett announced that no military records could be found to support the claim that Mr. Larry Lawrence had served during W.W.II as a Merchant Marine. Mr. Lawrence is one of the people receiving wavers from the Clinton Administration to be buried in National Cemeteries reserved for veterans who honorable served their country.

"These National Cemeteries are some of the most sacred ground in this country," said Senator Jerry Ward, "As a veteran of the war in Viet Nam I am appalled that a person who donates money can buy his was into Arlington National Cemetery".

According to information on the request for waiver from the Clinton Administration, "Mr. Lawrence served in the United States Merchant Marine during World War II. His ship was torpedoed in the Arctic and he was severely injured." "This service and his wartime injury in the line of duty should be considered equivalent to military service and the award of a Purple heart in present terms".

"We have found that Mr. Lawrence name does not appear in at least three locations where a reasonable person would expect it to appear in the records, given he supposedly served on the SS Horace Bushnell and suffered serious injuries." said Congressman Everett. "Why was the waiver for Mr. Lawrence granted when his service record could not be verified by the Arlington Cemetery Superintendent, as had been done in all 80 pervious merchant mariner burials."

"This is a disgrace to all Alaskans and Americans, especially those who have lost loved ones in the defense of this great country," Ward continued, "Many of the men I served with are buried in these cemeteries and the thought of someone who thinks honor and freedom can be purchased by supporting a political party being interred in the same ground as these friends in outrageous."

All Alaskans should be outraged by these actions and contact Alaska's Congressional Delegation and urge their support for committee investigations of these alarming allegations.

Senator Jerry Ward, is a Viet Nam Veteran, former U.S. Navy Sea-Bee and currently serves on the Senate Military Affairs Committee.

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Complete text of Congressman Everett's statement is attached.