Major General Larry Lafrenz, who helped oversee two of the largest deployments of Idaho’s National Guard during his tenure as adjutant general from 2005-2009, has died. He was 71.
Lafrenz joined the National Guard in 1966 and began his career as a commissioned officer two years later as a platoon leader in the 248th Engineer Battalion at Lewiston. He rose through the ranks and assumed command of the 116th Cavalry Brigade in 1996.
Three years later he was appointed as the Deputy Commanding General of the Idaho Army National Guard, and was appointed adjutant general by former Governor Dirk Kempthorne in January 2005. From 2004-2005, nearly 2,000 Idaho soldiers from the 116th Brigade Combat Team were sent to Iraq, which was the largest deployment in state history.
Lafrenz told the Idaho Legislature in 2009 that troops would likely be mobilized to either Iraq or Afghanistan that year.
He retired just prior to an additional 1,5000 soldiers being sent to Iraq in early 2010. (Idaho Stateman)
