My Why: John Larson

I was born on October 5, 1985 in Corning, Iowa and I come from a military family. I am the youngest of four children and each sibling has served in the United States Armed Forces. My oldest sibling Brett served 30 years (1988 to 2018) in the United States Air Force as a Civil Engineer, my sister Kim served as a Surgical Technician and then a RN in the United states Air Force for 8 years (1990 – 1998); and then my brother Josh served in the United States as was both Enlisted and Officer (Mustang Officer/Prior Enlisted) and was a fighter pilot who flew the following: S-3 Viking, F/A-18C Hornet (legacy baby Horney), F-18 Super Hornet, F-35C JSF Lighting 2 during testing (Retired 20 years 1996-2016).

My Father Larry served from 1966 to 1971 and served in Vietnam in 1967 to 1968 in the Brown Water Navy (River Boats) both RPBs and LCUs out of Da Nang and was injured in the Battle of Hue City during the Tet Offensive in 1968 helping in the rescue of more than 150 South Vietnamese Delegates at the Citadel in the city center by the docks on the Perfume River; as such he was sent to Da Nang military hospital and then off to R&R to Sydney, Australia where he met my mother (yes I’m Half Aussie) and they’ve been married ever since 1968, so yes my mum is a war bride.

I served in the United States Navy as a Fleet Marine Force (FMF) Corpsman (Greenside) with the United States Marines and was stationed at Camp Pendleton, 29 Palms, Okinawa and others plus did a few pushes, I stayed medical for short while and went to one two year college and two four year universities and transferred to the last one where I studied Intelligence as a major and International Strategic Diplomacy as a minor. I worked as a Defense Contractor overseas based out of Dubai but was all over the Middle East and Africa, with my last assignment to Djibouti Africa but covered the entire continent, with a primary focus on the Horn of Africa and Yemen across the Strait of Aden. I also served as a Missionary in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi prior to entering into Military Service. I’ve also consulted and advised many companies on international dealings.

I am married and have two children, my youngest child just survived Stage 4 Neuroblastoma which is the 2^nd deadliest pediatric cancer known to world, as it kills 95% of children it touches in the first 6 months, so she is a walking miracle, my oldest is an amazing girls as well and is into dance and martial arts.

My Wife Erika is 19 months sober from an oppoid depenceny and she required rehabilitation and recovery as well, there is much more to the story but her journey has given me a special place in my mind and heart for those suffering from addiction and I care about my fellow Veterans.