The search for Private Caleb Lawrence, a 25-year-old U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Gregg-Adams, remains ongoing as he has now been missing for nearly a week. His mother, Renee Lawrence, has taken to social media in hopes of finding her son, with thousands sharing her plea and offering support.
“Upon first learning of his disappearance, I immediately drove down to Fort Gregg Adams to search for him. I filed a missing person’s report with the military police and his 1st sergeant,” she wrote on Facebook.
“One of my son’s military friends called him at 3:00 a.m. that same Sunday morning, and my son answered the call, but immediately hung up upon learning it was someone at the base.”
Caleb was last seen on Saturday, February 22, during training at Fort Gregg-Adams. His disappearance has left his family and military officials deeply concerned. Speaking to CBS 6 senior reporter Wayne Covil, Renee Lawrence expressed her distress, stating, “I can’t sleep. It’s overwhelming, this situation. Not knowing if he’s OK or not.”
Concerns Over Caleb’s Disappearance
Renee shared that she had received an unexpected call from Caleb’s sergeant, informing her that he had expressed a desire to leave the Army. “Every message I’ve ever gotten from him has been positive,” she said, adding that while she wouldn’t be surprised if Caleb had run away, his complete lack of communication is uncharacteristic.
Investigators at Fort Gregg-Adams have been in daily contact with Renee since her son’s disappearance. The U.S. Army Quartermaster School released a statement confirming that Private Lawrence was declared Absent Without Leave (AWOL) on February 24, 2025. “We are concerned about his whereabouts and well-being,” the statement read.
Search and Investigation Efforts
Efforts to locate Caleb continue, with the Fort Gregg-Adams search-and-rescue team actively involved in the mission. Renee Lawrence told The Progress-Index that she remains hopeful due to their involvement. “The search and rescue group has me feeling pretty good about Caleb being alive,” she said.
Dani Johnson, the post’s director of public affairs, confirmed Caleb’s AWOL status in an email to The Progress-Index, stating that the Fort Gregg-Adams Provost Marshal Office and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) are actively investigating his disappearance.
A soldier is classified as AWOL when they leave their assigned post without their supervisor’s permission for up to 29 days. If they remain missing for 30 days, their status changes to desertion, which carries severe consequences, including a dishonorable discharge, demotion, or forfeiture of pay.
Family’s Plea and Call for Assistance
On February 25, three days after Caleb’s last sighting, his mother turned to social media, posting a plea for help. She detailed her concerns and revealed that Caleb had not responded to any calls or messages from family or military personnel.
“I fear something terrible may have happened,” she wrote. “If you see him, please encourage him to contact a family member or report to CQ at the military base.” She emphasized that his disappearance is completely out of character.
Fort Gregg-Adams has issued a “Be On the Lookout” (BOLO) alert through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and the Violent Criminal Information Network (VCIN). Authorities urge anyone with information on Caleb’s whereabouts to contact the Fort Gregg-Adams Provost Marshal Office at (804) 734-7400.
In an emotional message directed at her son, Renee pleaded, “Caleb, I love you very much. I support your decision if you want to leave the Army; that’s your decision, and I will support that. I want to help you. If you’re seeing this or hearing this, please let me help you. Reach out.”
As the search for Caleb Lawrence continues, family, friends, and military personnel remain hopeful for his safe return.
© 2025 The Salty Soldier. All rights reserved.
The content of this webpage may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written consent of TheSaltySoldier.com.
