Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame - MAJ Bernard D. Larson

Major Larson was born on 28 July 1932in Horton, Kansas. He began his military career by enlisting in Battery C, 154th Field Artillery at Horton as Fire Direction Computer on 12 June 1950, the year he graduated from Horton High School. In October 1956, he received a direct commission as Second Lieutenant with assignment as Assistant Executive Officer of Battery C, 154th Field Artillery which was redesignated Battery B, 2nd Battalion 130th Field Artillery in April 1959. He was promoted to First Lieutenant that year and was assigned as Executive Officer where he served until 1964 when he was promoted to Captain. He was then reassigned to Headquarters, 2nd Battalion 130th Field Artillery as Liaison Officer then later as Battalion Communications Officer. In February 1966, he returned to Battery B as Commander. He was reassigned in 1967 as Commander of Headquarters Battery.

In April 1968, the Battalion was mobilized as part of the 69th Infantry Brigade in response to the Pueblo Incident and stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado. He was reassigned as the Assistant S-3 and promoted to the grade of Major in October 1968. The following month, he was levied for service in Vietnam. He was assigned to the 9th Infantry Division as assistant S-3, then to 2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery as Liaison Officer to the 3rd Battalion of the 9th Infantry Division at Tan An. He was the Tan An Airfield Commander until November 1969 when he was released from active duty. He returned to the 2nd Battalion, 130th Field artillery and in April 1970 was transferred to Headquarters, 69th Infantry Brigade. He served as the Brigade Provost Marshall, Inspector General and Assistant S-3. He transferred to the Control Group, United States Army Reserve in May 1975.





			MAJ BERNARD D. LARSON
	Major Larson was born on 28 July 1932in Horton, Kansas. He began his military career by enlisting in Battery C, 154th Field Artillery at Horton as Fire Direction Computer on 12 June 1950, the year he graduated from Horton High School. In October 1956, he received a direct commission as Second Lieutenant with assignment as Assistant Executive Officer of Battery C, 154th Field Artillery which was redesignated Battery B, 2nd Battalion 130th Field Artillery in April 1959. He was promoted to First Lieutenant that year and was assigned as Executive Officer where he served until 1964 when he was promoted to Captain. He was then reassigned to Headquarters, 2nd Battalion 130th Field Artillery as Liaison Officer then later as Battalion Communications Officer. In February 1966, he returned to Battery B as Commander. He was reassigned in 1967 as Commander of Headquarters Battery. In April 1968, the Battalion was mobilized as part of the 69th Infantry Brigade in response to the Pueblo Incident and stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado. He was reassigned as the Assistant S-3 and promoted to the grade of Major in October 1968. The following month, he was levied for service in Vietnam. He was assigned to the 9th Infantry Division as assistant S-3, then to 2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery as Liaison Officer to the 3rd Battalion of the 9th Infantry Division at Tan An. He was the Tan An Airfield Commander until November 1969 when he was released from active duty. He returned to the 2nd Battalion, 130th Field artillery and in April 1970 was transferred to Headquarters, 69th Infantry Brigade. He served as the Brigade Provost Marshall, Inspector General and Assistant S-3. He transferred to the Control Group, United States Army Reserve in May 1975. In May 1979, he returned to the Kansas Army National Guard as a Chief Warrant Officer Two in the Personnel Section of Company A, 169th Support Battalion. In September 1985, he was reassigned to Headquarters, 35th Infantry Division in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, then returned to the 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery in May 1986 as the Unit Supply Technician until August 1992 when he retired as Chief Warrant Officer Four with a retired rank of Major. He is active in his community, serving as Past Commander of VFW Post 5210, Member, Hiawatha Elks and American Legion Post 373. He is active in St. Ann’s Catholic Church. He has worked Hiawatha High School Football as a member of the “Chain Gang” for over 25 years. He is a Life Member of the National Guard Associations of Kansas and the United States, serving three terms on the Board of Directors and volunteers for the Museum of the Kansas National Guard. His awards and decorations include; the Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Legion of Merit, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with V Device, Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Silver Hourglass Device, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Civil Action Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Three Overseas Service Ribbons and the Army Service Ribbon. He was inducted into the Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame, 4 November 2001.