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T/5 Lawrence P. Smith Jr. attended Ball State College for two years before he joined the U.S. Army Reserve in La Fayette, Indiana on 16 September 1942.

He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal posthumously. The citation cited: For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States in Germany from 19 January 1945 tot 18 March 1945. The unit to which T/5 Smith was attached as Chaplain's Assistant was waging an assault against heavily fortified German positions. On many occasions he exposed himself to hostile artillery and machine gun fire to minister to the wounded and assist in evacuation. While in the midst of performing his duties this brave soldier was killed. The intrepid courage and concern for the welfare of wounded comrades displayed many times by T/5 Smith remained as an inspiration to his comrades and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.

A member of the regiment wrote a letter mirroring the high esteem in which T/5 Smith was held. It follows in part: "Chaplain Harrison and Larry formed a combination that was hard to beat. They realized their duties and set out to do them. Both of them were always up there with the boys where the lead was the hottest, where death and blood where everywhere. They were up there taking care of our boys, they were bandaging, praying, evacuating the wounded, they were up there, with some men who were facing their last few fleeting minutes in this life. They faced death themselves with their boys."