Born: 1923
Died:
Campaigns Served: Namur, Saipan
Highest Rank Attained: Private First Class
Decorations: Purple Heart
Lawrence Jaster was born in Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1923. He was the youngest of 6 children.
With Dog Company:
Jaster served as an ammunition carrier on a heavy machine gun crew in Dog Company's First Platoon. He fought on Namur with that company, and was transferred to Able Company with Corporal Anthony Pramberger's squad.
With Able Company:
PFC Jaster's squad landed on Saipan on June 15, 1944. On June 16, their gun was hit by Japanese fire. Six of the crew, including Jaster, were badly wounded, and another was killed. He was evacuated, and never returned to combat.
Jaster went home to Leavenworth, where he he met and married Shirley Eckholdt; they had two daughters. Jaster and his family eventually settled in Arizona.