Larry Dean Bleything

Larry Bleything was born March 26, 1950 and grew up around the Ottumwa area. He was a quiet individual who, as the oldest of nine children, helped out at home. Despite his parents objection, he left school at age 17 to volunteer in the Army. His tour in Vietnam started August 26, 1968 in Quang Ngai, a hotbed for both Vietcong and North Vietnam regulars. He was assigned to the 198th Light Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. In April 1969 in while investigating a tunnel complex, he was killed by hostile fire. He was buried in the Ottumwa Cemetery.