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The following extract from a letter written by Brigadier General John R. Deane to Larry's widow describes the action leading up to Larry Britten’s death: “On 30 March, about mid-afternoon, Larry’s company. Company A, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 12th Cavalry Regiment, conducted a helicopter assault into an area about 50 miles southwest of the town of Pleiku, just a few thousand meters south of the Chu Pong Mountain and a few kilometers from the Cambodian border. A platoon from an air cavalry reconnaissance unit had entered the area earlier and had established light contact with an enemy unit. Firing was sporadic but not heavy.</p>
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“When Company A, of which Larry was the executive officer, landed in the area, the enemy fire began to increase in tempo, and by late afternoon an intense fire fight was in progress. Several helicopters were shot down, and a number of men in Larry's company were killed or wounded. Among the seriously wounded was Larry’s company commander who lay in an exposed, forward position with his soldiers. With great personal courage and showing complete disregard for his own safety, Larry went to his company commander to carry him to a place of safety. In the performance of this heroic act, Larry gave his life."</p>
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Born in South Dakota and raised in California, <em>Lawrence Alan Britten</em> entered West Point in July 1959 as a member of the Class of 1963. Larry approached his four years at West Point and the prospect of a career as an officer in the Regular Army with an enthusiasm and dedication that was rare among his contemporaries. He did extremely well as a student, his greatest interest being the study of Military Art, and, as an athlete, he led many L-l intramural teams to victory. But more than anything, the one trait which most distinguished Larry as a cadet was his latent ability to lead.</p>
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Those intangible qualities of leadership that beckon men of destiny to the forefront were already apparent when Larry came to West Point. Those who knew him as a cadet will always remember the confidence and trust he inspired while filling a wide variety of responsible positions in the Corps. His native talent, his drive, and his engaging personality all seemed to have predestined him for the highest positions of responsibility in the Service. It came as no surprise to Larry’s friends then, when he became the ranking company commander during his first class year. At graduation he was named the outstanding company commander of the First Regiment.</p>
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Larry decided that the greatest opportunities for leadership and the most difficult challenge for the young leader was in the Infantry. Having chosen that branch he and his wife Beth moved to Fort Benning in the summer of 1963, and there Larry successfully completed the Infantry Officers Basic course, and airborne and Ranger training. Larry’s first duty assignment was Fort Bragg where, despite the long hours and the frequent absences from home, he enthusiastically embraced his new responsibilities. For him it was a challenging time of learning, and his success as a young lieutenant was noteworthy. Soon thereafter he was selected as aide de camp to the assistant division commander of the 82d Airborne Division, Brigadier General Edward P. Smith. Although it meant separation from troop duty, Larry welcomed this chance to broaden his experience. He would now be able to evaluate the Army he loved from an entirely new perspective.</p>
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At Fort Bragg, a daughter, Kimberly Guin, was born to Larry and Beth. Larry’s loving devotion to his daughter resulted in a relationship seldom seen between a father and his young child. His family was extremely important to him, and he endowed mother and daughter with a deep and abiding love.</p>
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The unrest in the Dominican Republic and the subsequent movement of elements of the 82d Airborne Division to the Caribbean meant another dislocation from his family for Larry. But in his capacity as aide Larry was close to all facets of the operation. It was a rare opportunity for him, even though he sorely missed the exhilaration he always experienced while commanding and serving with troops.</p>
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It had long been his intention to volunteer for duty in Vietnam, but the situation in the Caribbean and his loyalty and admiration for General Smith prevented his taking any action to transfer.</p>
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Finally, in January 1966, Larry did leave for Vietnam—as aide to General Deane. It was his fond hope at the time that he would be released soon after his arrival in the far East in order that he might join a troop unit. Seeing the war and its progress from division level had its advantages, but Larry wanted to be with the units involved in the fighting. He felt that all of his training had prepared him for a leadership role in combat, and he yearned for that responsibility.</p>
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Larry’s request for release from duty as an aide was approved, and he elected to join the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Air Cavalry Division. Initially he was assigned as executive officer of the battalion’s A Company, and very quickly became part of the small-unit war with an entirely new perspective from the level of the combat soldier.</p>
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Quite apart from the military side of the war, Larry also saw and was profoundly moved by al! its attendant miseries. He wrote of his feeling of desperation at the sight of so many Vietnamese children orphaned by the ravages of war, and of his anguish over the suffering of his fellow soldiers. Still, his devotion to the United States' cause never wavered. Above all else Larry recognized that sacrifices had to be made in order to protect those principles which Americans hold dear. A close friend has said of him: "Larry was a most magnificent man and officer. There are so very few as special, as talented, as kind. And these few are the ones who are most willing to give of themselves in order to see that their dreams, their ideals, are held sacred.”</p>
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On that March day, 1966, while in command of an infantry company in close combat with the enemy, Captain Lawrence Alan Britten made the ultimate sacrifice. He left a legacy that will be shared by all who knew him or served with him, a legacy of courage and dedication.</p>
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Larry Britten was many things to many people—adored husband, devoted father, loving son and brother, professional soldier, courageous leader, and dedicated American. To his many friends he was a man and an American of the first and finest order.<br />
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