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50S FROGS ZINE
Volume 13 Page 13
CPO LARRY LEPAGE , USN (RET)
Training Class 19 COR 11/57
Here's what a frog said:
John Roberts: Our
old friend and Teammate "Leaping Larry" passed
away a little over two months ago. I had the pleasure of knowing him for many
years, from our time in the Teams on the Silver Strand in the late 60's up until recently in Louisiana. For the last dozen years or so I was
his unofficial Duty Driver there on the Westbank. Though Larry could be a bit
of a pain in the ass at times, as many of you know, he was a good guy at
heart and I recall our many escapades and adventures, with much affection.
During his final illness I was out of the country, and
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another good friend of many years, both of mine
and Larry's, stepped in to render all the assistance he possibly could to a
dying shipmate.
Joe Bates was with Larry every day from
the time he learned of his illness right up to the time he passed away, and
at the request of his daughters, took possession of Larry's remains after
cremation. I had the honor of taking possession of Larry's ashes from this
fine friend, CPO and Master Diver Joe Bates, and I brought them with me to San Diego to return to his family. Friends of
Larry's signed the attached letter I have just sent to CPO Bates in
appreciation of his noble service to a Shipmate. I also included photos when
I took possession from Joe, and of where his ashes rested at Rat Miller's in
Texas until two of us brought Larry to the rest of the way home, home to
Silver Strand where he spent the best years of his life.
I was able to talk to many of Larry's friends while in San Diego, friends from his Class 19, from Team
Eleven and SEAL Team One. Without exception they all
remembered Larry fondly and everyone had some sort of story to tell and every
Man jack of them considered Larry to be a good operator. His rewards received
in the heat of combat in Viet Nam also attest to this. No SEAL could ask for a better epitaph. Farewell
Larry, you were an ornery old SOB, we loved you and you were a damn fine
Teammate as well.
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