By Krista Finstad Hanson
For the Times
During World War II, the 36th Engineer Brigade became the 36th Engineer Regiment on June 1, 1941. Its nine engineer companies trained in amphibious fighting tactics and support. They served during Operation Torch in North Africa in 1942 in Algeria and Morocco. They later served in the Tunisia Campaign. They then were sent to Italy and fought in Sicily, Naples, and Anzio from January to June of 1944. They then went on to participate in Operation Dragoon in southern France from August to September of 1944. They then fought inland in support of the major European war campaigns until the war’s end in Europe on May 8, 1945.
PFC Lawrence C. Binns served with Company G, of the 36th Engineers Brigade, of the U.S. Army.
Lawrence Clement Binns was born on November 6, 1912 in New Diggings in Lafayette County to William E. and Elizabeth Anne (McCauley) Binns.
Lawrence’s mom “Anne” died on November 17, 1919.
On the 1920 U.S. Census, the “Binnes” family lived in the Township of New Diggings in Lafayette County. The household included father William, and children Cecil, Lawrence, William, Robert, John, his father Matthew, and his sister Cora. Father William, a widow, was a teamster (possibly in a zinc mine) for wages.
*{Note: This researcher could not find a death notice or further information for his father. However, it appears this family became broken up. This researcher could not find Lawrence, his father or his siblings except for Cecil and his half brother Austin on the 1930 census.}
On the 1940 U.S. Census, Lawrence C. Binns lived in New Diggings in Lafayette County and was the half-brother of Austin E. McCauley, who was the head of the household. Lawrence had an 8th grade education. In 1935 he had lived in rural Lee County, Illinois. He was a farm laborer for wages.
Austin E. McCauley was a “shovler” in a zinc mine for paid wages. He lived with his wife Lucille A. and their two children Robert L. and Wm. A. Also in the household was Wanda M. Redfern, a cousin.
On October 16, 1940, Lawrence Clement Binns registered for the WWII Draft. He was employed at the Little Bennie Mng. (Mining?) Co. in Shullsburg in Lafayette County. His next of his kin was his sister-in-law Mrs. Austin McCauley.
On April 18, 1942, Lawrence C. Binns enlisted in Madison for service in World War II. He was single, without dependents. He had a grammar school education and his civilian occupation was “semi-skilled miners, and mining-machine operators.”
From the April 18, 1942 The Capital Times article titled “Lafayette County Selectees Leave,” the article stated “Seventeen Lafayette county selectees left Darlington for Madison this morning for final pre-induction physical examinations.” The list included Lawrence Binns, New Diggings.
From the May 1944 US WWII Hospital Admission Card Files, Lawrence C. Binns (31) served with the Engineers. He was injured in the line of duty and was a battle casualty caused by a “land mine, while afoot.” He had injuries to the thorax and forearm. He received a blood transfusion but died in May.
From the June 15, 1944 The Platteville Journal and Grant County News, a notice stated “Pfc. Lawrence C. Binns of New Diggings, Wis., serving with the 36th Engineers Corps in Italy was killed in action on May 14th, according to word received by his brother, Austin McCauley, from the War Department.”
From the July 7, 1948 Wisconsin State Journal article “Bodies of 114 State Men Back from Italy; 29 Madison, Area War Dead Returned to U. S.” the article stated that the bodies were being returned to “the United States from Italy aboard the U. S. army transport Carroll Victory, the army announced today.” The Madison area list included “Pfc. Lawrence C. Binns, army.”
Private First Class Lawrence C. Binns was killed in action in the service of the Army during World War II. He received the Purple Heart, awarded posthumously. PFC Binns was repatriated and reburied in Shawnee Cemetery in New Diggings in Lafayette County.
PFC Binns is listed on the National WWII Memorial Honor List for Lafayette County, Wisconsin. PFC Binns is also memorialized on the Benton, Wisconsin WWII Memorial.
Thank you, Private First Class Lawrence C. Binns, for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.
