Lieutenant General Henry Louis Larsen | |
|---|---|
 Henry Larsen as Governor of Guam | |
| 2nd Military Governor of Guam | |
| In office August 15, 1944 – May 30, 1946 | |
| Preceded by | Roy Stanley Geiger |
| Succeeded by | Charles Alan Pownall |
| Military Governor of American Samoa | |
| In office January 12, 1942 – April 25, 1942 | |
| Governor | Laurence Wild (alongside as the Governor) |
| Succeeded by | John Gould Moyer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 10, 1890 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | October 2, 1962 (aged 71) Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Ammons Larsen |
| Alma mater | Army and Navy Academy |
| Occupation | Military officer, Governor of American Samoa, Governor of Guam |
| Awards | Navy Cross (2) Silver Star (3) Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2) Bronze Star Medal Nicaraguan Presidential Medal of Merit Legion of Honour (France) Croix de guerre (France) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1913–1946 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant general |
| Commands | Department of the Pacific Camp Lejeune 8th Marine Regiment 3rd Battalion 11th Marines 3rd Battalion 5th Marines |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
Lieutenant General Henry Louis Larsen (December 10, 1890 – October 2, 1962) was a United States Marine Corps officer, the second Military Governor of Guam following its recapture from the Empire of Japan, and the first post-World War II Governor of Guam. He also served as the Military Governor of American Samoa alongside civilian Governor of American Samoa Laurence Wild. Larsen was among the first troops overseas in both World Wars. During World War I, he commanded the 3rd Battalion 5th Marines and participated in numerous battles in France, earning the Navy Cross, three Silver Stars, the Croix de guerre with palm, and the French Legion of Honour. In between the World Wars, he served during the United States occupation of Nicaragua, where he earned his second Navy Cross, the Presidential Medal of Merit from President of Nicaragua José María Moncada Tapia, and his first Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
He served as the director of plans and policies for the Marine Corps until the United States became involved in World War II. He commanded the first troops to leave the United States – the 8th Marine Regiment. During the war he served as military governor of both American Samoa and Guam. On Guam he faced an island with large infrastructure damage from the two battles that had taken place there and undertook a project to transform Guam into a forward military base housing large numbers of troops. In the single largest construction project ever undertaken by the United States Navy, Larsen converted the island into an air and sea base that frequently launched attacks on the main Japanese islands. He also oversaw the capturing of remaining guerrilla Japanese forces and contended with race rioting between white and African American sailors and Marines.