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Chesley, Larry, 1938-

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1938-

Biographical History

Larry Chesley (1938-) was an Air Force pilot in the Vietnam War, and was a POW for 7 years.

Larry Chesley was born on September 27, 1938 in Burley, Idaho, to parents Verl Russel Chesley and Susie Baugh Chesley. He graduated from Burley High School in 1956, and directly joined the United States Air Force. During his service, he was deployed in California, Japan, and Germany. He married JoDene Neilson in October 1960, and they later divorced. He graduated with honors from Weber State College in Ogden, Utah, and then went back to the Air Force officer training school, graduating as a Distinguished Military Graduate (DMG). On April 16, 1966, he was shot down over North Vietnam, where he stayed as a prisoner of war for nearly 7 years. He was returned home on February 12, 1973, and went on to marry Alice Annette Huntsman on June 19, 1973, in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple. He went to Arizona State University to receive a master's degree in business, and spent a lot of his time giving religious firesides, talks, and lectures about his POW experience all over the country. In 1981, his wife and young son died in a car accident, and he remained faithful to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He retired from the Air Force in 1982, and then served in public office, being elected as Arizona State Senator from 1992 to 1996.

Citation:
POW network, via WWW, accessed June 12, 2019 (born on September 27, 1938 in Burley, Idaho to Verl Russel Chesley and Susie Baugh Chesley; graduated from Burley High School in 1956 and joined Air Force; deployed to California, Japan and Germany; married JoDene Neilson in October 1960; graduated with honors from Weber State University and went to AF officer training school, becoming a DMG; April 16, 1966 was shot down over North Vietnam; POW for 7 years; returned February 12, 1973; married Alice Annette Huntsman on June 19, 1973 in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple; received MD from ASU in Business; lectures, firesides all over country; 1981, wife and little boy die in car accident; remains faithful to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

VoteSmart, via WWW, accessed June 12, 2019 (served as Arizona State Senator from 1992-1996)

UPB Files, accessed June 11, 2019 (retired from Air Force in 1982)

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Larry Chesley magazines, 1968-2002

 Series — Box 6: Series 5 [Barcode: 31197239251934]
Identifier: MSS 9060 Series 5
Scope and Contents

Materials include various magazines which discuss events and opinions surrounding the Vietnam War and the government affiliation with foreign countries. LIFE, TIME, and Newsweek are some of the magazines included. Dated 1968-2002.

Dates: 1968-2002