page 2 Wednesday, November 10, 2010 the best.” copters were shot down in Vietnam details of the funeral itself, but the He paused for a moment before and I thought to myself, thank God night of Larry’s return is etched in Larry continuing, “He was pretty loyal, al- Larry is not ƀ ying,” she said. her mind forever. “I could not get over ways had your back. He had a sense Her family left for Fargo in two the outpouring of love for our family, of humor and a sense of adventure. cars for the ceremony, but her broth- by some people we knew and some Jacobson He was better than me.” ers Allen and Mark had to return we didn’t know well,” she said. “We “We had some pretty good times home because of vehicle trouble. got a phone call the body would be remembered together,” Jerry recalled. “I still miss When her mother called to check on in Minot, so we went to the Minot him.” them, they told her military person- airport. I thought it would just be He and Craig and other Kenmare nel had been there to visit. our family.” friends had a plaque made to com- Her parents discussed the situ- Instead, aunts, uncles, neighbors, memorate Larry’s death and mili- ation, wondering if something had friends and acquaintances showed tary service. “We had it at Tasker’s happened to Larry. “I heard it, but I up, as well as a color guard and an Coulee for the longest time,” Jerry wasn’t processing it,” Carol said. honor guard. The plane’s passen- said, adding that Des Lacs National She went back to an earlier mem- gers were allowed to leave, but they Memory on display . This plaque commemorating the life, military Wildlife Refuge personnel had them ory of a neighbor who said Larry’s did not exit through the gate into service and death of Sp5 Larry Jacobson is currently stored at Tolley, remove the plaque, attached to a ce- service in the Army would make a the terminal, waiting instead for after being displayed for 25 years at Tasker’s Coulee. Larry’s friend Craig ment square, a few years ago. man out of him. “I’ve thought about Larry’s cof n to be carried through Livingston is currently seeking another, more public, home for the plaque, The plaque is now stored in Cou- that a billion times,” she said. “The rst. “What I remember about that which had to be removed from its former site a few years ago. lee, but Craig would like to see it three oldest of us, we hate war, but night is just that there were so many displayed for the public, perhaps at our two youngest brothers are both people there to honor him and to love they didn’t enter the service to- said. “We got together and he asked Mouse River Park. “There should be military people. It’s interesting how my parents,” she said. “Even now, I gether. Craig and Larry actually left me, ‘Is it as bad as they say it is?’” some kind of shrine,” said Craig, “so this all turned out.” cannot get over how many people Kenmare for Minneapolis soon after Jerry recalled telling him some he gets a little bit of recognition or a According to Carol, Larry enjoyed came and sent cards.” graduation and found part-time jobs areas were all right and others were place where people can remember his time in Korea. He dreaded going One soldier’s legacy in the city. “We lived downtown in bad. “He must have got sent to one of him.” to Vietnam, but he remained true to For his service in the U.S. Army, one teeny room,” Craig said. “I think the worst areas,” he said. Jerry commemorates Larry’s the principle of doing right instilled Larry received the Army Aircrew we had one pullout bed and a couch. John was working in Tucson, AZ, death each Veterans’ Day. “I go out by their mother. “Before he went to Wings; patches representing the Neither of our families could afford at the time, but he met up with his to his grave and take him a bouquet,” 164th Aviation Group, the 13th Sp5 Larry Jacobson Vietnam, he was in Ft. Lewis, Wash- college.” old friend there just before Larry he said, adding that occasionally he ington, and we have relatives out Aviation Battalion and the 162nd As high school graduates, their shipped out for Vietnam. “I’d heard CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE and his wife Barb have hosted Army there,” Carol said. “They talked to “Vultures” Assault Helicopter Com- “He’d tell me about it. ‘Larry,’ names were selected for the draft, from him once in a while,” said John. friends of Larry’s from other parts of Larry about going across to Canada pany; and the Purple Heart, Na- I’d say, ‘take my spot.’ We’d switch so the two volunteered to enlist, “In Tucson, he told me he’d signed up the country who come to Kenmare and he would not do it. He wouldn’t tional Defense, Vietnam Service and places on the line and I’d take care rather than wait for their numbers for an additional year, and he said to and visit the cemetery. do that.” Vietnam Campaign medals. of that.” to be called. “I think that was in me, ‘I’m young. What’s an additional Craig has his own anniversary She didn’t hear from Larry while His name can be found on Panel Both Craig and Jerry remem- August, and we were serving by Sep- year?’” date at Larry’s grave site on June he was in Vietnam, not until the 07W, Line 011, of the Vietnam bered taking advantage of Larry’s tember,” Craig said. He and Larry The pain of saying goodbye 11th. “Every year, I go out to see news came of his death. “I can’t Veterans Memorial at the National weak stomach on occasions when started basic training together at Larry’s service in Vietnam began him,” he said. “I pour him a beer believe how sad that time was,” she Mall in Washington, D.C., one of the beer or other drinks were involved. Ft. Lewis, WA, but after a month or in May 1970, but Craig actually or sometimes I give him a shot of said, “and what a sense of loss. I 58,256 names representing U.S. ser- “Jerry and myself would go out and so, they were separated as medical left Vietnam on June 11th before schnapps or the whole bottle. He don’t have the vocabulary for that. vice men and women killed or gone drink, and we’d just pretend to get problems slowed Craig’s progress in ever seeing Larry. In fact, he didn’t was a good friend. You could trust Everybody at home just went to bed missing during the Vietnam War. sick,” Craig said, “but that would the military. know for certain if Larry had been him forever.” as soon as it was dark, and I cried “We were proud of having him as set him off and he’d really get sick, The two stayed in touch through assigned there. “I had a pretty good Craig also wants to visit the scene myself to sleep that night.” a brother,” Allen said. “I wish he was every time.” letters, including one letter that idea he was coming,” said Craig. “I of Larry’s death in Vietnam some- She described her schoolteacher still around with us.” Larry stayed loyal to his buddies, Craig has regretted sending to knew he would be the best mechanic day. “I’m going back to that spot,” mother, standing all of ve feet tall, Carol maintains that the veter- though. “If you ever needed some Larry for 40 years now, encouraging in the Army, but I also knew if he he said. “I was all over that place as a pillar of strength for the family ans who served in Vietnam have help, it would never be a no,” Craig Larry to get together with him in got to Vietnam, he would be a door as a ‘river rat.’ I have a nephew in at that time, while her father was not been appreciated enough by the said. “He’d help you no matter what. Vietnam. “I should have said, ‘Stay gunner.” Thailand now, and I think I could devastated. The rst holiday follow- American public. “When I was work- He was pretty shy. He’d talk to you, in Korea and we’ll party when we Craig was home in Kenmare just about find the spot where it ing Larry’s death and funeral was ing in the clinic, a Vietnam veteran but you’d better talk to him rst. But get back,” Craig said. when the news came of Larry’s happened.” Thanksgiving, and Doris Jacobson came in and I thanked him for his he’d do anything for you. He never Jerry also enlisted for the draft death, and Jerry was stationed in Whenever Carol thinks about the lled the house with relatives for the service,” she said. “He said to me that had an enemy in his life and never and started his service in November Texas, training, and unable to get day the news came of her brother’s day. “That was her spirit,” said Carol, I was only the third person who had had a ght, not that I remember.” 1968, but he didn’t hear much from home for the funeral.