AVON VETERAN OF THE MONTH - LARRY NAMMINGA

Larry Namminga decided to join the Springfield National Guard Unit in November of 1962. Being that he was only 17 when he enlisted, Namminga had to wait a year until he was able to attend basic training. At Namminga’s time of enlistment, there were ten of his classmates that also enlisted in the National Guard and another six from the local area, one of which was Kenny Powers.InSeptemberof1963,NammingaleftSpringfield toattendbasictrainingatFortLeonardWood,MO.While he was in the midst of his basic training, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. After the President was firstassassinated,FortLeonardWoodwasnotsurewhat the aftermath of the event would be and locked down the base. After he completed basic training, Namminga was able to come home for two weeks on leave during Christmas.HewasalsoabletostayatFortLeonardWood for his advanced individual training (AIT). Namminga was trained as a heavy equipment operator, which in Namminga’s words meant that he “drove a big truck”.