Larry Dean Austin

Larry Dean Austin grew up in the Altoona area. He entered the Army and was assigned to a unit destined for Germany. However, believing it was his duty, he volunteered to go to Vietnam in August 1970. He was married and was an only child. He joined the 3rd Battalion, 16th Artillery at Fire Support Base Mary Ann in western Quang Tin Province near the Ho Chi Minh Trail. On March 28, 1971 the enemy launched a coordinated mortar and sapper assault. SP4 Austin was killed during the initial rocket attack. In total 30 American troops died that day. A recipient of the Bronze Star, he was buried in Chapel Hill Cemetery in Des Moines.