Posted on 08/19/2014 6:35:10 PM PDT by shove_it
... Larry received his wings and commission in the U.S Air Force in 1943. During WWII, he saw service in North Africa, Italy and China. He was recalled again for the Korean War. He was later assigned to the Philippines, Japan, and Okinawa. Major Guarino was flying combat missions in Southeast Asia in early 1965 when he was shot down and forced to eject over North Vietnam. He was captured and taken as prisoner of war, spending the next 2,801 days in captivity. Colonel Guarino was released on February 12, 1973. He was awarded the nation's second highest award, the Air Force Cross, also the Distinguished Service Medal, two Silver Stars, a Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Purple Hearts, and more than 50 service medals. Larry later authored A P.O.W.'s STORY: 2801 DAYS IN HANOI about his experience....
(full obit at link)
(Excerpt) Read more at obits.dignitymemorial.com ...
RIP.
One of The Greatest Generation.
Bttt
Here’s a Florida Today article with more about Larry’s life:
“he served for 33 years as a pilot and loved the plane he flew in World War II, the Spitfire.”
RIP Col. Guarino.
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/highflig.htm
“Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds -
and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of -
wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence.
Hovering there I’ve chased the shouting wind along
and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air.
“Up, up the long delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,
where never lark, or even eagle, flew;
and, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
the high untrespassed sanctity of space,
put out my hand and touched the face of God.”
John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
I met Col. Guarino’s wife while he was a POW and then met him right after he was released. He was one of the finest men I have ever met.
Also met Col. John Finlay and Col. Vern Ligon, both released POWs, who became my husband’s COs right after their release. It was a privilege to hear some of their experiences while in captivity.
I treasure the memory of these Patriots.
Active Duty/Retiree ping.
More about Larry Guarino, Col, USAF (Ret) ...
http://www.pownetwork.org/bios/g/g063.htm
http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=3571
http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=100
RIP Sir...thank you for your dedicated and noble service to our country.
I attended Col Larry Guarino’s memorial service yesterday. The crowd of hundreds of mourners overwhelmed this large facility, the Life Event Center at Florida Memorial Gardens in Rockledge, FL. Fortunately we arrived early enough to get a seat. All four sons were in the reception line and Evelyn was seated inside the main room surrounded by female family members. Evy was remarkably her normal cheerful, gracious self. The service was opened by the commanders of two local VFW posts and the leader of a vet cycle riders group. The first remembrance was given by Larry’s closest soul-mate during their captivity in north VN who stressed the positive aspects of Larry’s leadership qualities as the ranking officer of the POWs at the various “Zoos” and “Hanoi Hiltons” where they were moved to and from (I did not catch his name, regrettably). The four sons plus two grandchildren gave wonderful family remembrances followed by a nice photo slide-show composed by Evy over the years. The “High Flight” poem was recited by another of the adult grandchildren followed by a prayer by another. Then exterior doors were opened to view a rifle firing party with a bugler who played taps by a VFW honor guard. It was a wonderful tribute to a truly remarkable man and a personal honor for me to have known him, though only briefly and slightly.
A reception was announced but by this time we had to leave. My brother, a retired USAFR LtC, is a neighbor of Larry and Evy at their retirement community - that is how I became acquainted with them over the past couple years. By now it is a fairly open secret that Col. Guarino will be interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
FReegards,
Otter
What an honor it would have been to
have attended the memorial.
RIP Col.
Thank You for the update. The service sounds like it was a fitting tribute to a great man.
RIP. Your service has not been forgotten.
When my uncle died, I had the privilege of meeting a Pearl Harbor survivor at his memorial. I told him it was truly an honor.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.