Correspondent photo / Tristan Hostetter Larry Cadman, a longtime resident of North Lima, served in the Air Force from 1965 to 1969 and spent one year in Vietnam. Today he is battling a new enemy — prostate cancer — with optimism and his devout faith.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of a series highlighting local veterans that runs Mondays through Veterans Day.

NORTH LIMA ‑– Larry Cadman, a U.S. Air Force veteran who served in the Vietnam War, now faces prostate cancer with faith, optimism and a fondness for the past.

In 2019, Cadman was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which he believes is linked to Agent Orange exposure during the war.

“My life is now in the hands of God,” Cadman told doctors upon learning about his diagnosis.

Cadman, 80, a longtime resident of North Lima, served in the Air Force from 1965 to 1969, spending almost a year in Vietnam.

He began his time in service at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, before heading to Rantoul, Illinois.

While in Illinois, Cadman went through training in fundamental electronics at the Chanute Air Force Base. After graduation, he signed on to a four-year assignment as a full-time instructor at the base.

“At that time, I thought, man, it sounds like a pretty good deal, you know?” Cadman said. “So, I started teaching, and I had a very good record of teaching what I had just learned.” He joked that he learned the material just to teach it.

While in the instructor role, he also spent time teaching English and electronics to Vietnamese students.

After his teaching experience, just a year before he planned to head home, the Air Force let him know he would be heading to Vietnam.

He went in with the 485th G.E.E.I.A. (Ground Electronics Engineering Installation Agency)

“We called it General Ely Edison’s Idiotic Airmen,” Cadman said with a laugh. “We had a lot of fun.”

Two days before he was planning to head home, his boss let him know that he was eligible for promotion to staff sergeant if he agreed to extend his time in the Air Force.

He decided against reenlisting and went on to finish up his time as planned in 1969.

“I love life, and I stay happy even when I’m talking about Vietnam,” Cadman said while reflecting on his time served.

It wasn’t until recently that he looked through his paperwork to find that the Air Force had promoted Cadman to staff sergeant even after he declined to stay.

Cadman originally enlisted in the Air Force to avoid being required to join the Army.

“I was a normal person,” Cadman said. “Then I started receiving letters from the government saying, ‘Get ready, because you’re going to be drafted.'”

Instead of waiting for the draft, he took action. He knew the Air Force was where he wanted to serve.

“I took off to downtown Youngstown and went to the Air Force recruiting office,” Cadman said. “I want to join. Where do I sign?”

After the Air Force, Cadman graduated from Youngstown State University in 1975 with honors in electrical engineering. He is the only child out of six siblings to graduate from college. He is the last surviving sibling.

Cadman spent most of his life as an electrical engineer. He worked at Altronic in Girard, as well as Ajax Magnethermic in Warren.

In the early 1990s, Cadman purchased Mahoning Valley Electric Service in Youngstown. He served as the owner of the company until he retired in 2009.

Two of his sons, Brian and Glenn, followed in Cadman’s footsteps doing electrical work as a career, to some degree. The middle son, Larry Cadman Jr., is a doctor. Cadman’s grandson, Matthew, is attending Texas A&M with honors in electrical engineering.

Cadman credits finding religion in October 1962, the same year he graduated from Austintown Fitch High School, with helping him keep his life on track.

He had attended a church party with a friend where he was introduced to “salvation.” He has had a strong faith in Jesus ever since.

After everything, Cadman said he hopes civilians are not intimidated by veterans.

“I have not run into a bad veteran,” he said