1st Reconnaissance Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division

Larry Allen Abshier and the Vietnam War

A Private's Fatal Decision

Amidst the turmoil of the Vietnam War, Private First Class Larry Allen Abshier made a life-altering decision on May 28, 1962. Overwhelmed by the fear of being deployed to the horrific conflict, the 24-year-old American sergeant deserted his post.

Defection and Isolation

Abshier fled alongside three fellow American military defectors: Jenkins, Jerry Wayne Parrish, and Dresnok. Together, they sought refuge in relative isolation, far from the prying eyes of their former comrades.