|
Lawrence Archie Hilken
PFC Lawrence Archie Hilken died in Vietnam - http://www.virtualwall.org/dh/HilkinLA01a.htm
  
Obits courtesy of Terry Jackson.
PERSONAL DATA
Home of Record: Dubuque, IA
Date of birth: 06/16/1950
MILITARY DATA
Service: Army of the United States
Grade at loss: E3
Rank: Private First Class
ID No: 54932305
MOS: 11B10: Infantryman
Length Service: 00
Unit: C CO, 2ND BN, 5TH CAVALRY, 1ST CAV DIV, USARV
CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: 03/07/1969
Incident Date: 04/06/1969
Casualty Date: 04/06/1969
Age at Loss: 18
Location: Tay Ninh Province, South Vietnam
Remains: Body recovered
Casualty Type: Hostile, died outright
Casualty Reason: Ground casualty
Casualty Detail: Burns
URL: www.VirtualWall.org/dh/HilkinLA01a.htm
ON THE WALL Panel 27W Line 025
|
Terry George Jackson
I just read the article in Classmate Chronicles about Larry Hilkin. For those who didn't know him he was a hell of a nice guy. Larry was my locker partner for 2 of the 3 years at Senior so I knew him fairly well. He was a lot of fun.
One night I was driving downtown and I noticed a car following me very close. Being the hot tempered fool I was back then I locked em up and jumped out of the car to confront the idiot following me. His door flew open and out came Larry with that big smile he always wore and laughing like crazy. Larry always wore his hair 50's style and the military haircut cracked me up instantly. As I recall there were a few expletives exchanged about that, all in good fun. He parked his car and hopped in with me and we drove around and talked for an hour or two. He said he was off to Vietnam when his leave was over. We talked about our misspent youth and the fun we had at Senior. I had to pick my girlfriend up at 10 when she got off work so I took him back to his car and said our goodbyes. I said we'd have a few beers when he got back. He said " Terry, I'm not coming back." I said how do you know and he said I just know. We said goodbye and as I pulled along side his car I said See you when you get back. We both laughed and that was the last I saw Larry. I was a good memory but it bothered me for a few years that he knew he was checking out in the next year.
Thought I'd share this. Larry was a good kid.
Sorry for repeating this but I should have posted it here instead of on my page.
Charlene Marie Hanson (Hanson)
I remember him from grade school, so sad, too young.
Jim Theisen
Larry and I set pins at Dubuque Lanes and he always held his ground being of short stature and had a great sense of dry humor. You had to love his coiffure and his meticulous care he took of it. He died in combat three months prior to me getting to Vietnam. I have been in Tay Ninh and Tay Ninh province several times where Larry's death was reported. Hauntingly, I'll neve know if i passed by or was close to the ground where he took his last stand. You are saluted and missed Larry. Thank you for your service.
Wes Eller
From David Elledge, Fremont, IA
Larry and I were drafted in the same group. His military serial number was only 2 digits from mine. We took basic training together. I was sent to the 9TH Infantry Division in Vietnam also as an infantryman. So sorry for the loss of Larry.