Navy Veteran Captained His Way
Published: November 11, 2022
Retired U.S. Navy Captain Laurence Grimes knows first-hand about “being pulled up by one’s bootstraps.” That expression is a salute to working hard, and Larry, as he’s known around The Arbors of Gulf Breeze, knows a lot about that.
How could he go from peeling potatoes and getting seasick as one of the most junior enlisted Navy sailors, an E-1, to commanding his own ship?
“I worked hard,” Larry said. “That’s the secret, and I wanted to make something of myself to prove I could do it. So, I just worked hard.”
His father also worked hard in the fresh produce business. It was this business that forced Larry to grow up in two different cities, which almost felt worlds apart: Winchester, Massachusetts, just about eight miles north of downtown Boston, and Coral Gables, Florida, a city that today has been nearly swallowed up by Miami.
Two cities separated by nearly 1,600 miles, but both were of importance to Larry’s family because when there are two to three feet of snow on the ground, it’s hard to get fruit and vegetables to grow.
So each summer, Massachusetts was home, and in the winter months the family would escape the fury of New England’s winters by living in south Florida. Bouncing from city to city was the norm for most of Larry’s life.
“It was just something we did,” Larry said matter of fact-like. “I didn’t know anything else.”
Boston to Miami … Miami to Boston. Then the cycle would repeat.
It wasn’t until high school that Larry stayed in Coral Gables long enough to finish Ponce De Leon High School in 1949 at the age of 17.
Shortly after completing high school, Larry entered the U.S. Naval Academy.
“I knew I wanted to do something with my life. I wanted to be someone who helped my country. I remember seeing the guys coming back from Europe after World War II and said to myself, ‘That’s what I can do.’ So, I did it.”
After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1955, Larry went on to George Washington University to earn a master’s degree, and then furthered his studies at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. And let’s not forget the 18 months in flight school where Larry learned how to fly nearly anything in the Navy’s arsenal.
“I started flying seaplanes because the Navy didn’t have anyone who could fly them,” Larry said laughing.
Between graduating from the Naval Academy and learning to fly airplanes, the Vietnam War was taking shape half a world away from the United States. Larry’s smarts and training would serve him well.
He was a pilot, and a good one at that, during the Vietnam War. The years of hard work were paying off and the Navy took notice of this young guy and gave him a big opportunity: Become the Executive Officer for the aircraft carrier USS Midway during the humanitarian evacuation mission of Saigon known as Operation Frequent Wind in 1975.
From that successful mission, Larry was rewarded yet again. And from 1976 to 1978, the son of a fresh produce businessman was the captain of the USS Duluth. This ship’s primary function included a unique capability to land and support Marine forces through sea and air, but because of its unique design, also a perfect platform for humanitarian missions such as evacuations.
The hardworking USS Duluth was a perfect fit for the hardworking Larry Grimes.
Throughout Larry’s naval career, he has won many awards, titles, and medals. In his possession is the United States Bronze Star, the Republic of Vietnam Bronze Star, and the Air Medal for Combat Support Missions to name just a few. His walls are adorned with proof he was Top Gun cool well before Tom Cruise was even born, and it’s those achievements that serve as reminders of perseverance.
"I learned to never give up,” Larry said. “I might have started at the lowest position, but I worked my way up to command a ship and two squadrons. I think that says something about hard work.”
Roger that, Captain Grimes. Roger that.
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