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Retired IBEW VP Honored for World War II Service

October 27, 2014

Retired Eighth District Vice President Lawrence Farnan received France’s highest honor, the Légion d'honneur, Oct. 6.

Retired Eighth District Vice President Lawrence Farnan received France’s highest honor, the Légion d'honneur, in his home city of Denver Oct. 6. Farnan, who was awarded the Bronze Star twice, was knighted, along with five other World War II veterans, at a ceremony held at the state house.

Cpl. Farnan served as a member of the machine gun and mortar company of the 103rd Infantry Division, where he fought in one of Western Europe’s biggest and bloodiest battles of the war, the Battle of the Bulge.

In 1994, he spoke with the IBEW Journal about two of his most memorable missions.

In November of 1944, 20 of us, carrying explosives, roped ourselves down the cliff and went several miles behind German lines, and blew up a gasoline and ammunition dump. A month later, we carried six machine guns over a mountain and wiped out an enemy garrison. We did not lose a man in either operation.

After the war, Farnan returned home to Colorado, joining Denver Local 68. Elected as business manager in 1967, he went on to be appointed international representative and then vice president. He retired in 1983.

“On behalf of the 750,000 members of the IBEW, I thank Brother Farnan for his brave service,” said International President Edwin D. Hill. “He is one of the many IBEW brothers and sisters who answered the call to defend the freedoms we as Americans and Canadians enjoy today, and we will never forget all they have done for us. ”

Click here to see more about Farnan’s life.