Larry Holub

Introducing our March Veteran of the Month…Mr Larry Holub! 

Larry grew up on a farm outside Center Point. Like all farm kids those days Larry remembers milking cows, doing other farm chores and getting into “trouble” with his siblings running around the countryside. He graduated from Center Point High School in 1968 and got hired on at Quaker Oats. In 1970 with the Vietnam war raging, it wasn’t long before Larry got his draft notice. Once he received his draft letter he only had 13 days he was required to report for processing.

 He reported to Ft Lewis in Seattle Washington for Basic Training and stayed there for Advanced Infantry Training. When he was notified of being drafted, he was planning a wedding with his fiancé Suzanne. His plan now was to come home on leave between basic and AIT for a few days for the wedding, but he didn’t get the leave he was planning. Instead he was shipped off to Ft Knox Kentucky for Armored Personnel Carrier School. Once there he basically had to threaten his superiors with going AWOL for them to approve 6 days leave. So, he got back home on a Tuesday, married Suzanne on a Friday and left to finish his training on Sunday.

Now with training complete and a war in progress you’d think he was headed to Vietnam, but Larry’s twin brother Gary had already volunteered for the Army and was fighting in Vietnam. The Army had a policy that they wouldn’t send siblings into war at the same time. Larry headed to the 19th Infantry Division at the 38th Parallel (the DMZ) in Korea. While stationed in Korea for a year Larry was promoted to Sergeant (E-5) and became a squad leader. While in Korea and with his brother in Vietnam it was a hard year for the families left at home. They remember the brothers calling home on Sunday evenings and the family all gathered in the living room so everyone had a chance to talk to them. 

After 14 months in Korea Larry came home, separated from the Army and went to work at Quaker Oats for the next 44 years. During that time, he and Suzanne raised 4 kids and now have 9 grandkids and 1 great grandchild on the way. Larry likes deer hunting and continuing to help his brother farm. He also loves going to all his grandchildren’s events. Please help me thank Larry for his service to this great county!!! Thank you for your service Larry.