Hello we are 8th grade students at Lindero Canyon Middle School. We are doing a project on 9/11. We chose to write about Lawrence. His picture will be hung in our class. He will always be remembered.

Posted by Lily and Blake

I am very shocked and saddened - first by my lack of attention ( I just learned I lost a friend and Navy classmate on September 11 2001). He was an early hero to me one of the most persistent tough-minded men I have ever known. We came back to our dorm rooms from the mile swim part of our Survival Training which we all had to complete to continue in the program. We opened mail unpacked and carefully folded laundry studied a little bit and went to dinner. After dinner in walks Larry Getzfred a Nebraska guy who could not even swim alone and exhausted having just completed the swim by himself using only the simple survival backstroke they had taught us. Larry had enlisted in the the Navy when I was only in 9th grade. He served on a P-3 Orion (the same type aircraft as the Lockheed Electra that crashed in Winthrop in 1960) He used his spare time to get a Math degree. His squadron commander was so impressed with Larry he wanted Larry as his NFO (second officer) once he had earned his wings. Larry went on to become a dedicated and talented U.S. Navy Captain the rank just below Admiral. He was working in the Pentagon on 9/11. I am just so saddened by this news. I hope I will never again fail to let a friend know I love and respect him.

Published by Jim Reid