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Colt Pocket Hammerless Model 1903 .32 ACP serial
number 571497 - issued to Brigadier General Lester W.
Grawunder on June 29, 1967.
The following is excerpted from his January 22, 1986
obituary which appeared in the Buffalo News:
 A
Buffalo native, General Grawunder rose through the ranks in
the Army and the Army Reserve, going from private to
brigadier general.
He served in the Pacific in World War II and was awarded
five Legion of Merits, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart,
six campaign stars and the Victory Medal. He attended the
Reserve Officers Association Academy, military police
school, National War College, the FBI Academy, and Army
General Staff College.
He also attended the University of Buffalo and the
University of Georgia. He had attended the old Hutchinson
High School in Buffalo, NY.
He began a law-enforcement career as a Buffalo patrolman
and later transferred to the Erie County Sheriff's
Department. General Grawunder took over as director of
training for the Law Enforcement Officer Training Academy of
the Sheriff's Department in 1961. he also taught police
science at Erie Community College. In 1972, then County
Executive Edward V. Regan tapped him to be coordinator of
the newly created Department of Central Police Services.
He had been cited for his law enforcement services by
both Erie County Chiefs of Police Association and the Erie
County Bar Association, during his career.
He was also active in civil defense and first-aid
training programs in the country.
He retired from the Sheriff's Department in 1979.
Grawunder was a member of Levant Lodge 957, F&AM, and the
Buffalo Consistory. He was also a member of Ismailia
Temple, second vice president of the Elma-Marilla-Wales
Shrine Club, and marshal for the Shriners' annual parade.
Right side of General Grawunder's Colt 1903 Pocket
Hammerless .32 ACP sn 571497
Photo of pistol on original Rock Island
Arsenal issue foil lined canvas bag numbered to the gun.
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Foil Lined
Canvas Bag is marked: |
Contents is
indicated as follows: |
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DOBECKMUN METALAM 777-V
MIL-B-131C CLASS 1&2
JAN. 1963 LOT 9 |
1005-317-2469
AUTO PISTOL COLT CAL 32
1 EA A 5-66
RK CB
571497 (handwritten) |
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Born 1916 |
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Buffalo, NY |
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Attended the Reserve Officers
Association Academy |
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Military police school |
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National War College |
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FBI Academy |
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Army General Staff College |
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1941-1945 |
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Five Legion of Merits |
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Bronze Star Medal |
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Purple Heart |
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Six campaign stars and
Victory Medal |
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1961 |
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General Grawunder takes over as
director of training for the Law Enforcement
Officer Training Academy of the Sheriff's
Department |
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1972 |
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Selected to be coordinator of
the Department of Central Police Services |
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1979 |
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Retired from the Sheriff's
Department |
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1986 |
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D-Buffalo, NY, 20 January 1986 |
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