Larry enlisted in the US Air Force after graduating from high school in June of 1950. He served 28 years before retiring in 1978. After boot camp at Lackland AFB, Texas, he was assigned to Radio School at Keesler AFB, MS. Following that, he was sent to Ashiya, Japan as a Radio Operator with the 15th RSM and was stationed there until March, 1954. Upon his return to the US, he married Anna Lou Carr in Eminence, MO and reported for his next assignment at Brooks AFB, Texas. From there, he was sent to Keesler, AFB where he applied and was accepted for Officer's Candidate School (OCS). He had earned the rank of T/Sgt by this time. He reported to Lackland AFB in the fall of 1956 for OCS, a 6-month training session. Due to a medical problem, he could not finish the first half, so began again in January, 1957. He was awarded his 2nd Lt. gold bars in June of that year and assigned to Communications Intelligence Officer's School at Riverside, CA. While there his son Matthew was born. Upon finishing the school in December, 1957, he was sent to Incirlik AFB, near Adana, Turkey, where he was assigned to Det. 1, 16th AF. His wife and son joined him there in September. During this tour of duty, he was promoted to 1st Lt. His next assignment was to HQ USAFE in Wiesbaden, Germany. He was accompanied by his family and their second child, Julia, was born there. Upon returning to the US in 1960, Larry was sent to Keesler AFB, MS, to attend the Communications Electronics Officers Course. While there, he was integrated into Regular Air Force. Completing this course, he was sent to Richards-Gebaur AFB, MO as Base Communications Officer and SAGE Communications Officer for two years, then back to Keesler AFB for the Communications-Electronics Staff Officer Course. In 1966, Larry was assigned to HQ ADC at Ent AFB in Colorado Springs, CO. During this time, he was promoted to Captain and then to Major. In 1968, he was sent for a tour of duty with NATO at 6 ATAF in Izmir, Turkey, again accompanied by his family. He returned to the US in 1970 and was stationed at Brooks AFB as Commander, 1906 Security Sq. (USAF Security Service) at Brooks AFB then as Chief, Tempest Division, AF Comsec Center at Kelly AFB. During this time he was promoted to Lt/Col. In December of 1975, he was sent to Udorn, Thailand, as Group Chief C&E Operations, 1974 Comm Group. He returned in December of 1976 when he was assigned to the Chief Inspection Division , AF Communications Service Inspector General at Richards-Gebaur, AFB, MO and later Scott AFB, IL. He retired in July, 1978 as a Lt/Col after 28 years, the first 7 years were enlisted status.