Dedicated to his work and nation

By Theresa Goffredo

Herald Writer

EDMONDS — Sgt. Major Larry L. Strickland wasn’t supposed to be at work Tuesday. But the dedicated Edmonds native had spent 30 years in the military, so he went to the Pentagon because he felt he was needed.

During Strickland’s important meeting that morning, an American Airlines jet, overtaken by terrorist hijackers, slammed into the south side of the Pentagon, killing Strickland and an estimated 187 others.

The 52-year-old Strickland became the first identified casualty from Washington state in Tuesday’s assault on the nation’s capital. He was the son of Olga and Lee Strickland of Edmonds.

"He wasn’t supposed to be working. He was supposed to retire, so he took some time off, and that day he wasn’t supposed to have been there," Olga Strickland said. "There was a conference, and he just went in for that. He was very dedicated."

Olga Strickland said she had talked to her son’s wife Sunday who told Olga that Larry was happy on that Tuesday morning when he left for work, thinking about the 19 days he had left before retirement.

"His wife told me that he was jovial that day and told everybody ‘Don’t forget my retirement party,’ " Olga said.

Larry Strickland was scheduled to retire next month, but he wasn’t going to stop working. The father of three already had many job offers and would have more than likely taken a job with a private company that had connections with the military, Olga said.

Strickland was a senior adviser to the Pentagon’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. His mother said her first-born son rarely talked about his job. She wasn’t sure if that was just his way or the delicate nature of his work. Much of his job involved personnel issues, Olga said.

Strickland, who has a younger sister living in California, went through the Edmonds school system, graduating from Edmonds High School. A percussionist, Strickland was a high school drum major — the traditional leader of a marching band — and also played in the Cascade Symphony.

He enrolled in the University of Washington to study English and history but enlisted in the military just two quarters shy of a degree. He finished his education while in the service and rose to sergeant major, the highest rank for military enlisted personnel.

"We were very proud of him," Olga said. "He had a lot of friends, and his wife told me today that we just couldn’t imagine how many friends he had."

Because of his job, Strickland traveled all over the world and spoke German.

That last time Strickland traveled to see his family in Edmonds was in August. The family had decided to hold an early birthday celebration for Lee Strickland, who turns 85 on Tuesday.

Strickland was a doting son, and would usually phone home every Sunday to check in. During the last time the family was together for Lee Strickland’s birthday in August, Olga recalled that Larry talked about his upcoming retirement party.

She said: "He told us he hoped we could come."

You can call Herald Writer Theresa Goffredo at 425-339-3097 or send e-mail to goffredo@heraldnet.com.

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