Larry was born on July 27, 1961 the proud son of Cecil Andrew and Elizabeth Anne Beisel. Larry grew up in Perry Oklahoma and attended Perry High School where he excelled as a scholar being inducted in the Oklahoma honor society and National Honor Society. Larry was also a stand out on both the football and baseball teams. Yet Perry Maroon sport fans mostly revere Larry as a state champion wrestler. Regardless of his sport, Larry was always a foundational member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Owing to his leadership skills as well as his academic and athletic prowess, Larry received Congressman Glenn English’s appointment to the United States Military Academy upon graduation from Perry High School in 1979.

Larry joined the UMSA Class of 1983 and was assigned to the ranks of the H-4 Hogs where he rose to the rank of Cadet Lieutenant. Coming to West Point was not easy for this Okie. Larry had to immediately learn a new language – English. Undeterred, Larry could be seen sneaking into the library past his hero, General George Patton. Larry was an exemplary cadet who represented the Army on the football field and on the wrestling mat. Larry spent four years honing his skills and providing his leadership to the Tactics Club – his passion. All was not strictly business though as Larry was a diligent member of the Dialectic Society “volunteering” to be up front to “inspect” security at his favorite acts.

Larry also brought some of his Okie habits to the H4 Hogs that over time became admired and even contagious including the art of chewing tobacco. Larry honed an Army logistics plan that ensured the Lost 50’s never ran out of Copenhagen.  Larry demonstrated his prowess as a wrestler throwing sneak attack moves in the H4 Day Room much to the chagrin of underclassmen.

Classmate Sara (Fotsch) Potecha credits Larry with helping her succeed in a dreaded self-defense class. Paired with Larry, and being just 5’ 2”, Sara was expected to hurl this tall and burly wrestler over her shoulder and subdue him on the mat. Larry quickly assessed the impossibility of this task and whispered to Sara, “Don’t worry, just say, when.” When Sara’s turn came, she murmured the call sign, and Larry hurled himself up and over her shoulder, landing with a thud that reverberated off the walls. The act so impressed the DPE instructor, Sara earned an A+ plus. Larry epitomized servant leadership and camaraderie.

As Yearlings, we remember "Plebe Chaser" duties which included testing Plebe knowledge before formation.  Out of all of us, Larry probably took this duty the most serious. Larry’s professionalism showed through has he demanded high standards of the Plebes. Clearly, they were intimidated as Larry towered over them.  We saw a gentle giant with a great big heart work tirelessly with each of his soldiers to develop leaders of character.

Though he was invited to try out for the 1984 US Olympic Wrestling Team, Larry chose to immediately fulfill his lifelong dream of serving his country as an Infantry officer. Larry graduated from Ranger School in January 1984 and was initially assigned as a Mortar Platoon Leader, C/46 Infantry Berlin, FRG in April. In Berlin, Larry headed the U.S. contingent that executed the changing of the guard and had to post up to meet his Soviet Army counterpart, shake hands, and stare each other down. It was "a sight to behold." Larry, a man-mountain in his own right locked in a death grip with a Soviet Army "monster of a man." We would be hard-pressed to find anyone in the US Army at the time (or today) better qualified to be in that role representing the US than Larry Beisel. I'm sure the Soviets took notice.

Due to his excellent leadership, Larry was given the opportunity to be a Rifle Platoon Leader, C/6-502 Infantry later that same year. In May of 1985, the need was greater in CSC/2-60 Infantry and his commander asked Larry to take an AT Platoon Leader position. As one would expect, Larry was offered the Executive Officer position of CSC/2-60 Infantry, 9th ID in Fort Lewis Washington in January 1986, and then quickly up to battalion staff to be the Assistant S-3. If that were not enough, Larry managed to complete the Infantry Officer Advance Course in Fort Benning, Georgia between assignment. His commander, again recognized his talents, gave him his first command in July 1988. Throughout his assignments, Larry was well decorated earning the Army Service Ribbon, Army of Occupation Medal, two Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.

Larry’s service spanned the globe for more than 30 years in places like West Berlin, Russia, Lithuania, Iraq, Afghanistan and Germany. He spoke seven languages, negotiated international defense treaties and represented the United States government as a Foreign Area Officer and Defense Attaché.

It was at West Point that Larry met the love of his life, Becky. Larry and Becky had two wonderful children William Weston Beisel and Kaitlyn Dale Beisel. Larry retired as a Lieutenant Colonel and he and Becky settled in Ruther Glen, Virginia. Larry will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery amongst our American heroes in the shadow of the capital of the nation he loved so deeply and to which he devoted his life.

“Earth's crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God,
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round and pluck blackberries.”― Elizabeth Barrett Browning