THE WALL OF FACES

I was with you the day you enlisted in the Marines. You believed wholly in what you were doing. We were classmates, but more than that we were friends. Thank you.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us...

Larry died just 5 days before his 20th birthday.

Larry died in the Quang Nam section of Viet Nam.

Only a day before he died, Larry called his parents and ended the the conversation with "I'll be seeing you around the first of May." He was due for release from the service at that time.

Larry's name is on the Viet Nam Memorial, Panel 31E, Line 21.

46 Americans were killed in Viet Nam on Dec 10, 1967.

Only one other soldier died in the same Province as Larry on that day.

"Larry's death has haunted me for decades. We, cousins from all branches of the family tree, grew up at the same time, and experienced the same things. I can probably say that we all were terrified about the possibility of being drafted, and serving in Nam. A bad war ... as it turned out, should never have happened. Our cousin, Larry, paid for it dearly, as did his family and friends." - Patrick Boice, cousin

"It is my understanding that Larry stepped on a land mine. He had traded duty with another soldier so that he could have his birthday off. I remember Larry as being a very nice, quiet boy. He really liked coming to Grandma Boice's house. I understand that he had been injured before his death while in Viet Nam but they just patched the boys up and sent them back to duty. That is really sad." - Joyce (Boice) Caetta, aunt

"Larry is in my thoughts frequently. I've visited the traveling wall on several occasions. I remember him when we were kids, always a smile on his face. Larry was a fun kid to be around. He was two years older than me ... at the time he seemed much older. I remember seeing his body in the plexiglass coffin at his funeral. I have known others in my school who had been killed ... Larry was family." - Patrick Boice, cousin

"Larry was 6 months older than I and I remember him well. I felt that Larry joined the Marine Corps to experience the world and wanted to experience more of life outside of Bryant, Indiana. Our older cousin, Jim Walker, was in Viet Nam and I know Larry looked up to Jim." - John Peterson, cousin

"I remember the day when my mother got the news of Larry's death. I was still in high school, graduating in a few months. Mom just screamed and cried. I think now looking back on it ... she was fearful that the same thing would happen to me. I was lucky to not see Viet Nam in my Navy career. It has bothered me all these years that Larry had to pay the price for all of us." - John Peterson, cousin

From a cousin,
John C. Peterson

The love I have for the USMC has always been inspired by the man I can call a cousin, brother, and so much more. If it wasn't for him I would've never even dreamed of trying to become one of the few. Thank you so much. Love you Larry.

Thanks Cousin Boice for giving me your soul after you have passed although it brings me flashbacks of Nam I embrace them knowing full well what is to come.