Lawrence William Everett, the youngest of five children born to Fred and Mildred (Fox) Everett, was born November 2, 1920, at his parents' farm near Lacey, Iowa. He graduated from Lacey High School in 1938. He worked on the farm until beginning a two-year agriculture program at Iowa State College in 1940.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in September 1942 and was called to active duty February 23, 1943. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and served as a bombardier in a B-24. He was assigned to the 8th Air Force, 458th Bomber Group, 753rd and then 755th Squadron, lead crew. He flew 29 missions and received several medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). He returned to the U.S. for short assignments after V.E. Day and was inactivated in October 1945. He was promoted to Captain while in the inactive reserves.