Henry Louis Larsen

Larsen was born on December 10, 1890, in Chicago to Andrew A. Larsen, a builder, and his wife.^[1] He moved with his family to Denver, Colorado, when at the age of 16.^[2] He attended the Army and Navy Academy boarding school.^[3]

He was fluent in French, Spanish, and Norwegian and served as a certified interpreter for all three.^[4]

Military service

Larsen joined the

Following the war and his governorship, Larsen assumed the position of commanding general of the Department of the Pacific. He retired a lieutenant general on November 1, 1946.^[1] He wrote several military texts on amphibious warfare, a style of warfare which he helped pioneer, and other topics.^[6] He earned the Navy Distinguished Service Medal twice, and the Bronze Star Medal once.^[2]

Governorships

American Samoa

President

During the war, he commanded over 215,000 personnel on the island and oversaw the development of the island into a major air and sea military base in the single largest construction project in the history of the United States Navy. By the time the war ended, the island contained five air bases and eight air strips, from which many planes made bombing runs on the Japanese mainland.^[1] The medical facilities on the island were also revamped, and many of the wounded from engagements like the Battle of Iwo Jima were routed through Guam before returning home.^[14] Larsen planned to convert the heavily damaged capital of Agana into a more modern American city with a grid plan similar to Santa Monica, California, but never achieved his "New Agana".^[10] Larsen contended that these improvements also provided easily discernible living condition improvements for the native Chamorro people of the island.^[15]

Post-military career

After Larsen retired from the Marine Corps,

Decorations

Lieutenant General Larsen's ribbon bar:

1st Row	Navy Cross with Gold Star				Navy Distinguished Service Medal with Gold Star				Silver Star with two Gold Stars				Fourragère
2nd Row	Legion of Merit with Gold Star			Bronze Star Medal			Navy Commendation Medal			Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal with three service stars
3rd Row	Mexican Service Medal			Dominican Campaign Medal			World War I Victory Medal with four battle clasps			Army of Occupation of Germany Medal
4th Row	Nicaraguan Campaign Medal (1933)			American Defense Service Medal			American Campaign Medal			Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one service star
5th Row	World War II Victory Medal			Chevalier of the Legion of Honour			French Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with Palm			Nicaraguan Medal of Merit with Silver star

First Navy Cross citation

Citation:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Major Henry L. Larsen (MCSN: 0-540), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service as Battalion Commander, Third Battalion, 5th Regiment Marines. On 4 October 1918, Major Larsen's battalion was leading in the attack made by the Fifth Marines, while operating with the 4th French Army, east of Rheims. The French troops on his left not being advanced, and the Brigade on his right being somewhat in rear of the advance, his battalion had both flanks exposed. In spite of this, his coolness and personal bravery enabled him to hold on to the ground gained. The Germans repeatedly counter-attacked, in one instance directly from his left rear, and his position throughout the whole day was under a most severe artillery and machine-gun fire. Major Larsen constantly visited the most exposed parts of his lines and encouraged his men by his inspiring example.[5]

Second Navy Cross citation

Citation:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Major Henry L. Larsen (MCSN: 0-540), United States Marine Corps, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as Brigade Inspector, Second Brigade, U.S. Marine Corps, in Nicaragua from 1 April 1928 to 26 March 1929. Major Larsen's duties in upbuilding and maintaining the morale of the forces, then engaged in a most difficult mission, were performed in a highly distinguished manner, always displaying zeal, activity, thorough understanding and discretion. His successful performance of these duties contributed greatly to the accomplishment of the mission of the naval forces engaged in the pacification of Nicaragua.^[5]

Personal life

On November 25, 1913, Larsen married Elizabeth Ammons, daughter of Elias M. Ammons, who served as governor of Colorado, in Denver, Colorado.^[18]

On October 2, 1962, Larsen died of a

Larsen is interred with his wife Elizabeth Ammons Larsen (1893–1990) at Arlington National Cemetery.^[19][20][18]

References