Lawrence George Borck

Lawrence George Borck, formerly of Ephrata, died Wednesday, Dec. 28 in Moses Lake. He was born on Feb. 7, 1922, the youngest of four children born to George Borck and Bertha Knack Borck of Rocklyn, Washington.

During his childhood the family had also lived in Davenport, Addy and Rice. He attended grade school in Davenport, graduated from high school in Harrington. Lawrence enlisted in the Marine Reserve on April 4, 1942 while attending Eastern Washington College.

He went on active duty on July 1, 1943 at the San Diego Marine Base Camp Elliott. Lawrence was in New Caledonia on Feb. 28, 1944 for further training, and his address at the time was First Marine Amphibious Corps, 46th Replacement Battalion. From New Caledonia they were shipped to Pavuvu, then to Guadalcanal for further training. Then he went back to Pavuvu, where the 1st Marines were preparing for their invasion of Peleliu. Lawrence was in the first wave when the Marines landed on Peleliu on Sept. 15, 1944, and was in Company F 1st Battalion. The 1st regiment suffered about 1,235 confirmed casualties in three days, almost as much as the entire Division's casualties during the 123 days on Guadalcanal. After 15 days of intense fighting, the 1st Marines were pulled out due to their heavy casualties, and sent back to Pavuvu aboard two hospital ships.

The next stop for Lawrence's crew was Okinawa, where they landed on April 1, 1945. While they were there, giving cover for the troops moving to the southeast, an artillery shell hit the tank beside them. Some of the shrapnel penetrated the left side of Lawrence's neck. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his wounds. This happened on May 13, and from the field he was taken to a first aid station for three days and then transferred to the hospital ship USS Karnes. Then on May 24, he was sent to the 5th Conv. Hospital on Saipan. After his discharge from the hospital on June 2, he returned to his outfit on Okinawa.

On Sept. 15, 1945 the Division convoy left Okinawa and headed for China. They arrived on Sept. 26 in a bay off the mouth of the Pei Ho River. From there, they were transported by train and truck into Tientsin. Only two of the tank destroyers were sent to China for the occupation duty, and Lawrence had command of one of them. They were sent out on patrol to maintain law and order and keep the provisions of the Japanese surrender.

By Dec. 26, 1945 Lawrence had 75 points and that was enough to go home. He was discharged at Camp Pendleton, Calif. on February 9, 1946 with the rank of sergeant.

Lawrence married his high school sweetheart, Marie Yarwood on Feb. 15, 1947. The couple then moved to Ritzville where Lawrence served as a deputy sheriff, and they operated a motel. In 1951 they moved to Florence, Mont. and in 1953 moved to Ephrata.

Lawrence, in addition to contracting, was the owner-promoter of the Ephrata Speedway for many years. In his years of retirement his great joys included his grandchildren's activities and traveling with his wife. Lawrence was a member of the Ephrata Elks, American Legion, and lifetime member of the VFW.

He is survived by his brother Elwood "Jake" Borck of Yakima, daughter Gretchen Borck of Ritzville, son Philip Lawrence Borck and wife Linda of Ephrata. He is also survived by granddaughter Sara Tempel and her husband David, and grandson Andrew Philip Borck.

He is preceded in death by his father George Borck, mother Bertha Borck, wife Marie Yarwood Borck, daughter Susan Sperline, brother Othello "Thel" Borck; and sister Lorraine Janett.

Memorial services will be held at Nicoles Funeral Home in Ephrata at 12:00 pm Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006. Interment will follow at 2:30 pm at the cemetery in Harrington.