Soldier Honored: Samuel W. Large, Jr.

Lance Corporal Samuel W. Large, Jr., 21, of Villa Rica, Georgia, was assigned to the Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464, Marine Air Group 29, 2^nd Marine Aircraft Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force in New River, N.C., and served during Operation Enduring Freedom. On February 17, 2006, Lcpl. Large was killed while flying a training mission near Ras Siyyan, Dijbouti.

When he enlisted as a student at Villa Rica High School, he was only 17 and his mother was reluctant to sign. Lcpl. Large begged her to sign so he would be guaranteed the job he wanted, so she did. After graduating in 2003, he left for basic training during the summer. He excelled quickly and became a Crew Chief on a CH-53 Heavy Lift helicopter. Lcpl. Large was deployed to help relief efforts during Hurricane Katrina and sent to Dijbouti as part of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, with the mission of fighting terrorism in nine countries in northern Africa as well as in Yemen.

“Sam loved serving his country as a Marine,” a family friend said. “He had an infectious personality. He will remain in our hearts and souls forever. As long as he is remembered, he will never truly be gone. We love and miss him every day.”

Lcpl. Large’s son is a Folds of Honor Scholarship recipient.