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Lawrence Nicholas "Larry" Guarino (April 16, 1922 – August 18, 2014) was a United States Air Force officer, and veteran of three wars.[1] Shot down on his 50th combat mission, he spent more than eight years as a prisoner of war (POW) during the Vietnam War and earned the Air Force Cross.
Lawrence Nicholas Guarino | |
|---|---|
 Colonel Lawrence N. Guarino | |
| Nickname(s) | Larry |
| Born | April 16, 1922 Newark, New Jersey |
| Died | August 18, 2014 (aged 92) Indian Harbor Beach, Florida |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1942–1975 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | 31st Fighter Group 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron |
| Battles / wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards | Air Force Cross Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross (2) Bronze Star Medal (3) Purple Heart (2) Air Medal (15) |
As a POW at Hỏa Lò Prison (the "Hanoi Hilton"), he shared a cell with John McCain,[citation needed] the future senior United States senator from Arizona and Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election. Guarino wrote A P.O.W.'s Story: 2801 Days in Hanoi about his experiences in captivity.
Guarino flew the Supermarine Spitfire in World War II.[citation needed] His last duty station was Patrick Air Force Base and he retired to Satellite Beach and Indian Harbour Beach, Florida, after leaving the Air Force. He died on August 18, 2014.[2]
Awards and decorations
editLawrence Guarino's ribbons as they appeared at retirement:[3]
Air Force Cross citation
edit- Colonel Lawrence Nicholas Guarino
- U.S. Air Force
- Date Of Action: May 11, 1968 – September 22, 1969
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Section 8742, Title 10, United States Code, awards the Air Force Cross to Colonel Lawrence N. Guarino for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as senior ranking officer of a North Vietnamese prison camp during the period 11 May 1968 to 22 September 1969. Following the execution of a carefully conceived escape plan by two of his officers, Colonel Guarino, who was known by the enemy to be the senior ranking officer in the camp, immediately came under maximum pressure including savage torture without parallel. Colonel Guarino exhibited exceptional heroism, courage, and determination during this period. Displaying great resilience when back in communication, he assumed command once again and slowly built the prisoner organization. Through his extraordinary heroism and maximum resistance in the face of a brutal enemy, he reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Hubbell, John G. P.O.W.: A Definitive History of the American Prisoner-of-War Experience in Vietnam, 1964-1973 (New York: Reader's Digest Press), p. 50.
- ^ Moody, R. Norman (August 19, 2014). "Brevard Vietnam veteran, POW dies". Florida Today. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
- ^ "Tribute". Veteran Tributes. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
- ^ "Lawrence Nicholas Guarino". The Hall of Valor Project. December 30, 1945. Retrieved October 27, 2020.