Larry James Cottingham

Master Sergeant Larry James Cottingham, Retired, peacefully slipped away on September 17, 2019 surrounded by his loving and supportive family. Larry was El Dorado County’s Most Decorated Vietnam War Veteran. He was born on November 14, 1944 in Dillon, Montana. He was the first of four children born to Robin and Dan Cottingham. Larry was under Hospice Care for the past 2 years at the home of his sister Cindy and husband Dale White, in Coloma, where he received the very best of care.

Larry grew up living on the Spotted Bear Ranch cattle ranch near Dillon, Montana until he was 13, where he spent much time in the out of doors doing ranch chores and hunting and tracking game. After finishing school, Larry worked in the mining and construction industries. He credits the skills that he acquired on the ranch and the heavy physical and mental demands of his other work with preparing him for the challenges he would face in Vietnam.

Feeling a strong patriotic call and a desire to serve his Country, he joined the U S Army Special Forces in 1965. He was subsequently sent to Vietnam after completing his Special Forces training in three specific disciplines: Demolition, Light Weapons & Medic. En route to the Special Forces Headquarters at Nha Trang, Vietnam, he was redirected to the101st Airborne Division as an Infantryman. After an initial period of combat and familiarity with jungle warfare, he became the sniper for the Brigade and often went into enemy territory either alone or with a spotter, on special missions. Based on his abilities and reputation he soon became a member of the legendary, by invitation only, Tiger Force, one of the most highly decorated units in the Vietnam War. He was wounded a number of times in his first year but learned not to accept more than two Purple Hearts, as you were sent to the rear echelon, if you received three.

After his first year in Vietnam, Larry volunteered for a second tour. Unlike his first arrival in Vietnam, he made it to Special Forces Headquarters in Nha Trang, Vietnam. As part of the 5th Special Forces Group, he and his team members regularly parachuted deep into enemy territory in Cambodia, Laos, and North Vietnam on special missions that were declassified in the past few years. Such missions would make great material for Hollywood movies and nightmares for the rest of us.

During his third tour in Vietnam, Larry was badly wounded by mortar fragments while on a reconnaissance mission on the South Vietnamese and Cambodian borders. He was evacuated and flown to Walter Reed Army Hospital where he underwent numerous operations to repair his wounds. He was subsequently transferred to the Veteran’s Hospital in Livermore for additional surgeries. Following his recovery, he was honorably discharged from the Army. Larry was married later that year.

After a short period of time of civilian employment, and for a variety of reasons, Larry received an Army medical clearance and reenlisted in the Special Forces. The Army denied his request to return to Vietnam due to his previous injuries and instead gave him a choice of becoming an Instructor at Fort Bragg or going to the 7th Special Forces in Germany. Larry often said Germany was an easy choice for him. While some things are known about Larry’s post-Vietnam military service, much of his service life still remains classified. We do know that he also served in the 10th Special Forces, 3rd Battalion Rangers, was a training instructor at Fort Bragg, a ROTC Instructor, Lectured on Drug and Alcohol Abuse, taught at the Marine Corp Sniper School in Quantico, Virginia, and that he was a member of the Blue Light (counter-terrorist subunit) and Delta Force. He formally retired from the military in 1988. Following his retirement, and “at the request of and convenience for the US Government,” he provided services to a governmental agency and that work remains classified.

Following the completion of his government service, he was involved in a number of successful business ventures. He returned to Coloma in 1997 to take care of his aging parents. Larry is survived by his daughters Rhonda and Robin, his sister Cindy White (Dale) of Coloma, California, and his brother Dana (Susan) of Yerington, Nevada. He is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. His brother, Bob, preceded him in death, as well as his parents and his wife.

A Memorial Service honoring Larry’s life will be held on Saturday, October 12, 2019 at Chapel of the Pines in Placerville, California at 2PM. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Veteran’s Memorial Hall, in Placerville or the charity of your choice.