Interviewed by

Toni Young & Ally Doherty

"I found myself sitting there just crying ... How cool is that to be welcomed home?
Cause we weren't."

~ Larry French (27:55)

Laurence French's Story:

Lawrence Charles French was born and raised in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts. Born on February 20, 1948, he is the youngest of four boys. He joined the army and left home for training at Fort Dix in New Jersey during September of 1965. At 17 years old Larry took Basic Training and Advanced Infantry Training.

At 18 he went to Pohakuloa Training Camp. Located in Hawaii, Pohakuloa was chosen because it has the same climate as Vietnam. Larry's company stayed there for 30 days, the he volunteered to go to Vietnam to get his 12 months in. He served in Vietnam from May of 1967 to June of 1968.

After he got out of the Army he vowed to protest the war until all his fellow soldiers got out as well. Larry joined the VVAW (Vietnam Veterans Against the War) once he was out of the war.