Lawrence Eugene Lilly (1946 - abt. 1971)

Biography

Lawrence was born 17 Feb 1946 in Los Angeles^[1] to parents Col. Robert Jean Lilly and Jeanette A. (Goodwin) Lilly.^[1]

1LT Lilly served with A Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division^[2] as a Rotary Wing Aviator.^[3] after graduating from the 4th Student Officer Company, Flight Class 70-22 (B-1), out of Fort Wolters, Texas.^[4]

1LT Lilly was the co-pilot of an AH-1G HueyCobra (tail number 68-17035) that served on a reconnaissance mission over Kratie Province, Cambodia. After being hit by hostile ground fire, the helicopter was forced to the ground within enemy territory. A search and rescue attempt was unsuccessful at recovering 1LT Lilly as enemy fire forced the helicopter to leave before he could be recovered. Later attempts at rescue also proved unsuccessful.

1LT Lilly was last seen by U.S. personnel lying on his back with his shirt partially open and blood on his chest and neck. He was observed being fired upon by Viet Cong forces.

An ARVN ground unit entered the battle area to try to rescue Lilly, but found him dead. The unit came under heavy fire, and in the course of the battle, the body was lost to the enemy. Lilly's remains were never recovered.^[5][6]

1LT Lilly was memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific and Arlington National Cemetery. 1LT Lawrence Lilly was declared MIA and presumed deceased on 17 Mar 1971, the date of his tour.^[2][3]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "California Birth Index, 1905-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VG3S-X1S : 27 November 2014), Lawrence Eugene Lilly, 17 Feb 1946; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "United States Military Personnel who Died During the Vietnam War, 1956-2003," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXXY-17B : 12 December 2014), Lawrence Eugene Lilly, 17 Mar 1971; citing , , Cambodia, panel 04W, line 055, NARA NAID 571687, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "United States Casualties of the Vietnam War, 1956-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXZW-XMQ : 12 December 2014), Lawrence Eugene Lilly, NARA NAID 306742, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
4. ↑ "Lilly, Lawrence Eugene, 1LT". 2019. Army.Togetherweserved.Com. Accessed November 9 2019.
5. ↑ "Bio, Lilly, Lawrence E.". Pownetwork.Org. Compiled from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Updated by the P.O.W. NETWORK in 2018. Accessed November 9 2019.
6. ↑ "LILLY, LAWRENCE EUGENE" Compiled By Task Force Omega Inc. 2019. Taskforceomegainc.Org. Accessed November 9 2019.

See also:

• Find A Grave: Memorial #134984948 - 1LT Lawrence Lilly in National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, HI.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #919917 - 1LT Lawrence Lilly in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.
• "‘A Long Time Coming’: POW/MIA Lilly’S Name Added To Rocky Versace Memorial". 2019. Alexandriagazette.Com. Accessed November 9 2019.
• "1LT Lawrence Eugene Lilly, Los Angeles, CA On Www.Virtualwall.Org The Virtual Wall® Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall (Panel 04W - Line 55)". 2019. Virtualwall.Org. Accessed November 9 2019.