Fred Lawley

Fred Wayne Hill- Lawley, 79, passed peacefully Thursday Nov. 25, 2010, at his home. He was born on April 16, 1931 to the late Isaac and Hazel Hill in Cullman, Alabama and raised in Lawton, OK. Married to Mary B. Denson of Delight, AR. Jan.17, 1951 till her death, Feb. 29, 2008 and Anne Lester of Hughes Springs, Texas on August 2008 to present. He held a B.A. degree in Political Science from Benedictine College in Atchison Kansas. His long, celebrated Military career began when he was drafted in 1952 and volunteered for Jump School and was eventually promoted to SGT, E5 , with the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, NC.. In 1955 he attended Officers Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA., and received his Commission in Infantry. Soon after, Wayne found himself with the 13th Cavalry, 1st Armored Division as a Tank Company Commander at Ft. Polk, LA. He was then ordered to Panama where he served as a Company Commander of the 20th Infantry Battle Group. He was then transferred to Ft. Knox, KY and was a Company Commander in the 1st Training Regiment where he served as Armor/Cavalry Instructor at the US Army Artillery and Missle Center. In 1964, Wayne volunteered for U.S. Army Special Forces. After sucessfully completing the rigorous qualification training, he was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group with a specialty in demolitions. 2 years later, (’65-’66), he was assigned to a tour in Vietnam with the 5th SFG as a Corps Operations Officer,being promoted to Major, developing and training “Special Op’s” teams while working alongside the native Montangard people,”a primative people with the courage of a lion”,which whom he grew especially fond of. Upon returning stateside he attended The Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, KS., where he graduated with esteemed collegues such a Collin Powell and Arnold Schwartzkoff. He would later return to author training programs and instruct Field Grade Officers in special operations and U.S. policy on foreign aid programs between 1970 and 1973. After graduation from the CGSC in 1968, he was assigned Chief, Main Battle Tank Systems, U.S. Army Armor Agency where he served as supervisor of military and civilian personnel responsible for managing combat development programs for which he was promoted to Leiutenant Colonel, “below the zone”, or an early promotion. In 1973 he became Deputy Commander of the 7th Special Forces Group. In 1974, Wayne Lawley became Battalion Commander of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group the proudest moment of his military career. He managed Special Operations Organizations providing support to foreign governments and responsible for training highly skilled special operations teams and was President of the Green Beret Sports Parachute Club. He was promoted to full Colonel. In 1975 he and his family were sent to Tehran, Iran to advise the 23rd Iranian Special Forces under the Shah to include the main battle tank program and the Shah’s Commamd and General Staff College. In 1977 he returned to Fort Leavenworth and served with the Combined Arms and Development Group. He was selected as the TRADOC Inspector General stationed at Fort Monroe, VA in 1978. In 1979 Wayne was inducted into the Infantry Officers Hall of Fame. He retired at the grade of Colonel in 1980 then moved to Hot Springs. After spending a short time in Real Estate he was hired by the Vinnell Corp. in 1986 to train the Bedouins of the Saudi Arabian National Guard for 2 years. After coming home he served as president of Chapter 49, the Arkansas chapter of the Special Forces Association where he conducted two National Walks; Walk leader/planner/organizer for the “Walk of the Warriors” and “Walk for Women Veterans” from New Mexico to Washington D.C. to honor, dedicate and raise money for the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. He also authored, organized and walked “Operation Bank- Walk across America” to raise money for the Special Forces Museum in Fort Bragg, NC. From the 5th of Oct- 12 Dec 1997. From 1992-1999 Wayne was the Honor Guard leader/trainer, VFW Post 2278 (Hot Springs, AR) performing hundreds of Military Honors ceremonies cunducting 136 military funerals in 1 year alone, 1998. His last official mission was National President of the Special Forces Association from 2000- 2004. In 2008 Wayne met and married Anne L. Lester of Hughes, TX, who with his son Chris and Daughter-in-law Rhonda were at his side when he went to be with his God. Wayne is preceded in death by his wife Mary of 57 years, a brother, James (Bim) Lawley and three sisters-in-law Chris, Lola and Betty. Survivors include his wife Anne, Son and Daughter- in- law Chris and Rhonda Lawley, two brothers and sister-in-law, Steve Lawley and Mike and Chung Lawley, two sisters, Katherine Gibbons, Paul Rodriguez, Sue and Pat Lester , sister-in-law and brother-in-Law, Doris and Clarence Gill, Granddaughter ; Jessica Lawley, Nephews; Duane and Donnie Mordecai, Mark Lawley, Steve Lawley Jr., Nieces; Stephanie Barnard, Laura and Raymond Gonzales, Lisa Lawley, Stepchildren; Robin Saurez, Steven Daberko, Dennis Debarko and many extended family members. Celebration of life services will be Tuesday at 1:00 P.M. at the Red Oak Baptist Church with Pastor Joe Bob Smith officiating. Pallbearers will be members of the VFW Post #2278 Honor Guard. Visitation will be Monday from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the Hot Springs Funeral Home. Burial will be in Crestview Memorial Park with military honors by the Ft. Campbell Fire Team and the VFW Post #2278 Honor Guard. Memorials have been designated to the VFW Post #2278 Honor Guard or the Red Oak Baptist Church.

Fred Lawley

November 25, 2010