A Good Samaritan

This is a biography about Larry Kerns; my grandpa. I’m not just writing about him because he is my grandpa but because, his life story has always sent me into a world or “the good old days.” His dedication and devotion is so inspiring! Every time I asked or was told about my grandpa’s life I grinned from ear to ear and listened carefully getting starry eyed as I held on to every word.
Larry Kerns was born in Emporia Kansas on July 13,1934. That was the day he became the son of Lawrence Kerns and Helen Frazier, and grandson of Mourie Wiemer Frazier from Marion. He lived on a farm in Clements for a time and also lived in Rose Hill. He spent a lot of time in Marion being babysat by his grandma Mourie Frazier. Marion soon became his childhood memory.
I’d always thought it was cool when I heard a friend tell about their grandpa being in a war, but when I heard my grandpa was; that was only the begging of my admiration. At age 15 while living in Wichita he joined the Air National Guard. “Wow can you imagine that’s like a freshman in high school.” Then he was called to active duty in the Korean War in 1950 at the age of 16; “Happy number 16” and for him it was, he was proud to go, even at his age. Regardless what he thought, his step dad Van Hosmer wanted to get him out of it because of his age but he went anyways. He said it would give them one less mouth to feed. Larry had gone into the war with fighter wings, but ended up driving a truck when all the planes were lost.
During a tour of duty in France he met Cara Hocknell in 1954. The two of them had their first kiss in the Coliseum, at night. After touring in France he was transferred to Bryan Texas. He got out of the service in Oct. 1955 and went to work at Douglas Aircraft company in Tulsa. Now this is where I think the story really begins…in Nov. of 1955 he couldn’t help his love for grandma and re-enlisted into the service and got married in Dec..
Once married and back in the service he did a lot more great things. Since this is a limited paper I’ll just give you the skinny on it all. He had 4 kids; Sharon, Van, Margie (mom), and Mike. Since grandpa worked in the air force he was stationed all over. The family had to move to various places like, OK,MA,GA,MY,CA; Washington D.C. Although they lived all those wonderful places when he retired from the air force in July 1971 they all moved back to Marion where he grew up.
My grandpa is passed away now. He died Aug. 22, 2004. It’s April 24th 2006; my birthday, I’m 14 years old and I still remember every little detail of what was told to me of his career. Although he did great things on Air Force One the things he did with his family were 10 million times better. If I were to call up all my cousins and sisters and ask what they remember about grandpa it would be how he played with us all. He was Santa at Christmas and playmate of the year. None of us will ever forget the loud ringing of the old school bell at Buttler. Grandpa would walk or carry us over their and ring the bell for us. Even when he was older and not as able to play or interact as much my little sisters Sarah got just as much love as us. When Sarah would walk by his chair to go the den and play with toys he would reach out his hand for her to touch…or tickle her to show her that he loved her too. He was so very close to us all and a very good man. I read about an article written in 1978. It tells about my grandpa trading rooms with the astronaut so he could get some rest. The room was filled with the noise of fans outside the window but he traded room anyways. The article shows just how much of a good man he was.
I’m so excited to tell you this last part, this is what I want you to remember about my grandpa. He hardly ever could communicate how much he loved us all but while he lied in a hospital bead breathing his last breaths of life he had left before GOD took him away. He used the last bit of strength he had to say “I love you all.” This is so great; that is what makes me pleased to write this paper; not the tears that rolled down my cheeks when he went but knowing the last words he wanted to say was “I love you all.” 1