Richard X. Larkin

LARKIN RICHARD X. LARKIN Army Major General (Ret.) Richard Xavier Larkin, age 80, an Army Major General (Ret.), who served in Korea and Vietnam, died on August 14, 2010 in the Fairfax Nursing Center. MG Larkin was a native of Omaha, NE and after graduating from West Point in 1952, immediately entered into the Korean War as a platoon leader and then company commander. MG Larkin later served as commander of the 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam in 1968-1969, and as commander of the 2nd Brigade and Assistant Division Commander of the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Carson, Colorado. MG Larkin also served as the Defense Attaché to the U.S. Ambassador to Russia from 1977 to 1979, followed by assignment as the Deputy Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, the position he held until retiring from active duty in 1981. MG Larkin held masters degrees in Russian from Columbia University and in Industrial Engineering from George Washington University. He also graduated from the U.S. Army War College in 1971. Following his military career, he held several positions with defense contractors before starting his own defense consulting company, where he continued his life''s work of protecting our nation. During his second career, he remained active in national security, including serving as President of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers, and as an expert witness in espionage cases. He also served as his West Point class President for 20 years. His awards and decorations include the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Soldier''s Medal, Bronze Star with "V" with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with ten Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Services Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star and two awards of the Combat Infantryman Badge. He was a parishioner of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in Fairfax and remained a devoted Catholic his entire life. He is survived by his wife, Donna; their five children, Colleen Tuddenham, Richard (Donna O''Bryan), Maureen, Michael and Mark; and their six grandchildren, Michael, Jennifer, Scott, Kelly, Laura and Patrick. Friends will be received on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Everly Funeral Home, 10565 Main St., Fairfax, VA 22030. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Thursday, August 19 at 11 a.m. at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, 3700 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA. Interment with full military honors, will be on Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at 3 p.m. in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to INOVA Fairfax Hospital, 3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA 22042 or to a charity of your choice.