Local Vietnam veteran honored in Kentucky

By Eric Seiverling

eseiverling@yourmvi.com

It took 50 years, but for Valley Inn resident and Vietnam veteran Larry LaBryer, a recent award ceremony in Kentucky was better late than never.

LaBryer, who served in the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1970, was invited earlier this summer to accept the Sabalauski Air Assault School’s Honorary Air Assault Badge at a ceremony in Fort Campbell, Ky.

The award recognizes the legacy of the soldiers who served in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam who later provided the groundwork of what has evolved into the air assault techniques and tactics of today.

“We were the first ones to ever do that because none of the other wars were anything like Vietnam,” LaBryer, a 1967 Munhall High School graduate, said. “That’s when the helicopter came into play. It was one of the best things that ever happened. It’s what kept us going.”

The concept of air mobility/air assault operations was established from 1967 to 1972 with the 101st Airborne Division in the mountainous terrains and jungles of Vietnam. 

Since 1974, the Air Assault Badge has been awarded to soldiers who successfully completed the physically demanding and mentally challenging Air Assault School, a 10-day course that prepares soldiers for insertion, evacuation and pathfinder missions that use multipurpose transportation and assault helicopters.

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