THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Lt Gary Larson, Thank you for your service as an Infantry Unit Commander. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. For many of us, we have begun Lent. The time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

I WAS WITH GARY AT FT CAMPBELL BEFORE WE BOTH WENT TO VN
I FOUND OUT IN JAN 71 WHEN I GOT THERE HE HAD BEEN WOUNDED
WENT TO DA NANG HOSPITAL BUT HE HAD ALREADY BEEN SENT TO JAPAN
I AM PUTTING A MEMORIAL BRICK AT FLA SOUTHERN COLLEGE FOR HIM AND MY UNCLE KILLED IN 1967. STILL MISS THEM BOTH

Taken from the Richmond News Leader (Richmond, VA) dated February 17, 1971, page 10, courtesy of David Kilmon, Cyber Librarian, Richmond Public Library.

1LT Gary W. Larson served with 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 11th Infantry. On Christmas Day in 1970 he was wounded with three other members of 1st Platoon in an ambush in the vicinity of Mai Loc in Quang Tri Province, RVN. 1LT Larson was on point with members of his platoon. Only minutes before the ambush they had moved along a wide and barren path through an old ville where they were nearly run down by a water buffalo, an old cow and her calf. Everyone in the column ran for cover jumping into hedge rows on either side of the path. The cow knocked down the medic and was trying to gore him. Others emptied their M-16 magazines into the skull of the cow but she didn't stop. The medic was yelling for help when the M-60 gunner came up and put some rounds through the cow's brain through the back of her ear. She slumped and dropped to the ground. The calf was whining and it had to be dispatched it as well. The medic was removed from under the cow. He was pretty shook up as were the rest of 1st Platoon. Things settled and they called the necessary channels for restitution for the animals. Then they were ordered to move out. About five minutes later everything broke loose up on point when the ambush was sprung. Three soldiers were wounded including 1LT Larson. A dustoff (medical evacuation by helicopter) was called but weather conditions (low ceiling) prohibited any aircraft from coming in. However, a pilot volunteered to come in and get the wounded. He was guided in by illumination flares, and with expert flying skills, lifted the wounded out. After being treated in a military hospital in Vietnam, 1LT Larson’s wounds require he be evacuated to Japan. There he succumbed to his wounds on February 12, 1971. [Taken from a narrative by Garry Beeson at virtualwall.org]

Dear Gary,
You Have Not Been Forgotten!

The Society of the Fifth Division, U.S. Army, during its 95th Annual Reunion in Pittsburgh, PA (Sept 10-14, 2015) , held a Reading of the Names Ceremony to honor the 514 Soldiers from the 5th Division that were Killed in Action during the War in Vietnam. Your Name Was Read Aloud Among Those Soldiers. You Have Not Been Forgotten! Rest in Peace, Dear Brother.

Thomas Grafton
Alpha company, 7th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division
Vietnam (1968-1969)