HM3
LARRY EUGENE YODER
Born on Apr. 30, 1944
From Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Casualty was on May 2, 1967
in Quang Tin, South Vietnam
Panel 19E - - Line 20
"Doc" Larry Yoder served with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. He was KIA on Operation Union II, an operation that cost the lives of many of his fellow Corpsmen and 3/5 Marines. The heroic actions of Doc Yoder, and these young Corpsmen and Marines, resulted in the Presidential Unit Citation for the entire 5th Marine Regiment. The Marines and Corpsmen of Mike 3/5 will never forget. Semper fi, Doc.
This photo was sent in by Fred Gardner, Larry Yoder's friend and fellow Corpsman. Larry is in the 4th row, third from the left. Next to him on the right, is Gale "Stormy" Felver, also KIA in Vietnam (7/66). Fred Gardner is in the front row, all the way to the right.
Another Corpsman, Doc Lou "Luigi" Beck who recently "reunited" with Doc Gardner via the internet after 35 years is also in the picture, 4th row, two to the right of Stormy Felver. Thank you so much for sharing this precious picture, Fred.
Shipmate and Friend
Larry and I met in Hospital Corps School at Great Lakes in 1965. We were both from the fleet, me from submarines; he from surface ships. Despite this difference, we hit it off and became friends.
After graduation, we both got sent to New London Naval Hospital. A natural for me being a "bubblehead" with intentions of returning to the boats. A different type of duty for Larry. We both got orders to Field Medicine School on the same day, 9/8/66, (my wife's birthday).
Larry was the guy who helped me find my first apartment so my new bride could join me in Connecticut. We went through field med school in Camp Lejeune, and became Marines together. We landed in Danang as part of the same group of replacements. That was the last time I saw him.
A great guy; a good shipmate; a dedicated Marine and an excellent Corpsman who really cared for his "Grunts." I'll never forget him.
Fred Gardner HM1(SS) Chu Lai 66-67
fred.c.gardner@gte.netSemper Fi, Doc Larry
I didn't know Doc Larry very well (you choose not to). I know we were in a long column in a narrow river bed. I was in the middle of the column and we knew that the NVA were probably waiting for us so everybody was very nervous as we had been in some very heavy firefights that day.
About noon, I heard a lot of automatic fire coming from the front of the column, it had the distinct sound of automatic Ak47s, a sound one never forgets. After the firing had stopped, next thing I know people are carrying this black Marine face down by his web belt and he had a hole in his neck, of course he was KIA.
A few minutes later a poncho is filtering down the column, and face up was Doc Yoder. His face was ashen yellow, and I had trouble recognizing him, but I asked, "Is that Doc Yoder?" to which a reply came back affirmative.
The story was that this black Marine was hit by a sniper, and Doc Yoder went to his aid and was hit by the same sniper. A black Marine and a white Corpsman that tried to save him, how ironic in those days of civil unrest.
I wish I would of got to spend more time with Doc Yoder, but I will never forget him, and his death face--it seemed so peaceful. Marines think of their FMF Corpsmen as Gods, Larry was truly one.
Semper Fi, ~Roger Kromko
(FMF
Corpsman emblem by Redeye)