Born August 23, 1920 at Leeds, Alabama. On February 20, 1944 while piloting a B-17 on a mission in Leipzig, Germany, his aircraft was attacked at 28,000 feet by enemy fighters. His co-pilot was killed. He and eight crew members were wounded. With one engine on fire and the flight controls damaged, the aircraft entered into a steep dive. He recoverd at 12,000 feet, but the enemy fighters continued their attack. Lt. Lawley gave orders to abondon the badly crippled aircraft, but he remained on board in order to save two badly-wounded crew members. Despite his own serious wounds he set course west, maneuvering as best he could to avoid enemy fighters. He managed to struggle across the English Channel and crash landed at an English base, saving the lives of the crew. For this heroic action he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.