THE WALL OF FACES

Lawrence is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in St Petersburg, FL.

We went to high school together, and graduated in June 1965. Thirty seven years have passed since Larry and I saw each other, and I have thought of him many, many times. Was in the early spring of 1966, at Travis AFB, and both were on our way to Vietnam. Larry in the Army, and me in the Marines. We were in two different chow lines, about twenty feet apart, and Larry was jumping up and down to get my attention. We both waved, then went our seperate ways.
It was another high school friend who provided information on Larry stepping on a land mine. And to this day, when I hear the word land mine, I immediately slip back to the goodbye wave at Travis AFB. Fratres Aeterni, my friend.

Lawrence Christian Clausen is the first young man of whom I think each time the Vietnam War is mentioned in my presence.

Larry was a very friendly and handsome young man. He was my age, lived in my hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida, and attended the Pasadena Baptist Church where I also was a member. Larry's mother was one of our Sunday School teachers and a lovely Christian woman.

I did not serve in the armed forces. Even though I have tried to do so, it is not possible for me to understand or even fully imagine the war time experiences of so many American men in uniform.

I can only stand in awe and appreciation of their efforts and sacrifices - in Larry's case, his ultimate personal sacrifice.

To this day - thirty-two years later - I can still remember the feeling of shock and heartache at the age of 19 when I read the newspaper column announcing Larry's death while he was serving his country in Vietnam on February 15, 1967.

My thoughts and prayers that day in 1967 - and even to this day - are for his mother and family members who still will miss their boy and the special person he would have continued to be if he had returned home alive.

Since Larry was a Christian young man in more that just his middle name, I believe all Christians will see Larry once again in Heaven at our own life's end. We can rejoice then and now in our God's promise of eternal mercies achieved through another willing ultimate sacrifice for us - that of Jesus Christ, God's Son of Man.

Again, when I think of Vietnam, I thank God for men of courage and devotion to our country - men just like my friend, Larry Clausen.

John R. Beatty