Local Veteran Inducted into Hall of Fame
Sgt. Lawrence Skaggs Wounded in
Philippines in WWII, Later Died
Chillicothe, Ohio Gazette, May 5, 2008
More than 60 years after his death, a World War II hero was inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame of Valor.
Noah Skaggs, the brother of Sgt. Lawrence Skaggs, was presented with a medal commemorating Lawrence's induction as part of the 2008 ceremony Friday in Columbus.
About 50 members of the Skaggs family attended the service, said Noah's daughter, Tammy Edwards.
"It really touched me that so many people cared about this so much to come," Edwards said. "We had family members come in from North Carolina and Indiana."
Edwards submitted a nomination for her uncle's admission to the hall of fame, and he was chosen along with 19 other Ohio soldiers for the honor.
"They only give this to 20 people each year," Edwards said. "It was a very nice ceremony. It was just wonderful he was honored this way."
The ceremony included inductees who had served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq conflicts. Edwards said some inductees were present to receive the award, while others accepted on behalf of their family members.
"My dad always gets emotional and choked up when he talks about his brother," Edwards said. "I know it was touching for him to accept the award."
Lawrence Skaggs has been honored in Chillicothe before, the local Army Reserve Center bears his name, and Edwards said his receipt of a Silver Star medal is what qualified him for induction into the hall of fame.
Skaggs was awarded the medal posthumously for his leadership of a rifle squad in the Philippines when they came under enemy fire. According to the Hall of Fame, "... Skaggs showed great courage as he aggressively led his squad to establish a firing line on the right flank point ... on his initiative charged the hostile position shouting defiance to the enemy and encouragement to his men."
Two months after the incident, Skaggs died from wounds received during the charge.
Edwards said her Uncle also received a Purple Heart, Good Conduct, World War II Victory, and Asiatic Pacific Campaign medals for his service.
"My dad would talk all the time about him and we heard so many stories growing up," Edwards said. "I'm glad this is another way to remember him."
The Ohio Military Hall of Fame was founded in 2000 to honor military men and women either born in Ohio or conscripted into the service from Ohio.