Lawrence talked about Harold, his friend's father, who was a WW2 hero: https://buffalonews.com/news/harold-j-oconnor-inn-owner-war-hero/article_94e92c5c-4a45-5e15-a688-7b7d93b5901e.html

On Christmas Eve, an 82nd Airborne Division squad including Harold O'Connor of West Seneca was sent to an outpost ahead of the ridge that marked the American lines. Only a few squad members were still alive by Dec. 26, when the Germans attacked in force.

"I saw hundreds of German soldiers running toward us," O'Connor recalled. "I ran toward them to get to my machine gun, they were about 50 to 75 yards away from me. I heard nothing, I just ran, I hit the ground and then opened up on them ...