The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, SGT Lawrence Buford Prater, who died in the service of his country on October 27th, 1967 in Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. The cause of death was listed as Booby-trapped Grenade. At the time of his death Lawrence was 37 years of age. He was from Williamson, West Virginia. Lawrence is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Panel 28E, Line 88.
The decorations earned by SGT Lawrence Buford Prater include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation.
Incident at BS 675576, 7 KM W-NW OF MO DUC AFLD. Nothing specific in Americal TOC Logs. UTM is C/2/35th location night of 26/27Oct.
The following news story was taken from a Williamson, WV area newspaper from 10/31/67. The obituary was taken from the same newspaper dated 11/2/67.
Sgt. Prater is Killed in Vietnam Action
Sgt. Lawrence B. Prater, 38, a half-brother of Guss Matney of Goodman Hollow, Williamson, has been killed in the Vietnam war, it was reported today.
Prater, who lived with the Matney's here for several months before re-enlisting in the service, was killed Oct. 27 of metal fragment wounds in Vietnam.
Educated in Virginia Schools, Prater served in the armed services for about 15 years. He was discharged last February, but re-enlisted in September.
OBITUARY
Sgt. Prater's Rites
The body of Sgt. Lawrence B. Prater, 38, of 914 Goodman Ave., Williamson, who was killed during enemy action near the Cambodian border in Vietnam October 27, was expected to arrive in Williamson today, escorted by military personnel. It will be removed tomorrow to the home of a half-brother, Gus J. Matney of Goodman Ave.
Funeral services will be conducted from the Matney home at 1 p.m. Sunday. Burial will take place in the Mt. View Memory Gardens at Maher under the direction of the M.T. Ball Funeral Home. Military honors will be accorded at the graveside.
Sgt. Prater had spent 15 years in military service and re-enlisted in September, He was a member of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Division. [Note: 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division]
Born at Woodman, Ky., he was a son of the late Jackson and Corbie (Cook) Prater.
Surviving are the following brothers and sisters: Mrs. Bud Ratcliff of San Francisco, Calif., Mrs. Kansas Dotson of Columbus, O., William Jackson Prater of Keen Mountain, Va., James Anthony Prater of Clinchco, Va., Mrs. Elizabeth Prince, of Williamson, Mrs. Ruth Ann Cavey of Baltimore, Md., William Anthony Prater of Monroe, MI., Gus J. Matney of Williamson, Reece E. Matney of Greenville, S.C., and Walter E. Matney of Lorain, O.
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