Devin Larzelere: Veteran of the Month | October 2025

Devin Larzelere grew up in the small, rural town of Lily, Wisconsin, in a close-knit family. He was the middle child, with three older brothers and three younger sisters. As a young boy, he enjoyed playing basketball and football, as well as spending time in the woods. His upbringing was also influenced by military service, as two of his older brothers served for 20 years in the armed forces, and his father had also served in the military.

 

After graduating from high school, Larzelere enlisted in the Army right away. Larzelere felt a strong sense of duty to serve and knew precisely what he wanted to do. “I definitely chose Infantry,” Larzelere said, “because I wanted to be on the front lines – and I definitely was.” After enlisting in the spring of 2007, Larzelere completed both his Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He then underwent advanced combat and martial arts training at Fort Drum, New York. Fort Drum, located in northern New York near the Adirondack Mountains, is known for preparing highly deployed and experienced units of the U.S. Army, as well as training and preparing other military branches for cold-weather operations.

 

Larzelere served as an 11B Infantryman, which is a ground combat soldier trained to fight through direct and indirect enemy fire using a variety of weapons. As an infantryman, it is essential to maintain excellent physical fitness and the ability to perform under intense pressure while working effectively as part of a team. This role is not only challenging but also requires the ability to stay mentally sharp, adapt to complex environments, and remain disciplined. Larzelere took on the roles of Team Leader, Machine Gunner, and Land Navigation Specialist. As a Team Leader, he was responsible for training and leading three soldiers, ensuring their mental and physical readiness for combat.

 

Larzelere was deployed twice during his military service. His first deployment was to Iraq for 15 months as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this time, his unit primarily operated in the northern and central regions, conducting missions out of Kirkuk. Later, he was deployed to Afghanistan for 12 months during Operation Enduring Freedom, where he and his team carried out rescue missions for military and civilian personnel involved in combat.

 

During his time in Iraq, Larzelere experienced a life-threatening moment when he was shot in the helmet by a sniper’s bullet. The impact, which delivered around 700 pounds of pressure, caused the Kevlar lining inside his helmet to buckle inward. “I was knocked out for about 20 minutes,” he recalled. “The Kevlar in my helmet saved my life.” Two others from his battalion were also injured—one was shot in the arm, and the other was hit in the shoulder—but thankfully, all three survived. Devin mentioned that he received treatment for his head injury between deployments. He explained how many things can change after a head injury, such as vision and cognitive issues, saying, “Even my handwriting changed and looked different.”

 

After four years and two dangerous deployments, Larzelere was ready to transition from military life. After his honorable discharge in 2011, he returned to Wisconsin and began working as a Cable Technician alongside one of his brothers. Over the years, his job took him all over the country, including a seven-year period in Florida as a Cable and Audio/Video Technician, and later to North Carolina, where he worked as a Solar Salesman. Most recently, Devin relocated to the St. Louis area to be closer to his younger sister and joined Veterans Care Coordination as a Care Advisor.

 

Reflecting on his time in service, Devin shared that the Army had a lasting impact on his approach to life and leadership. “My time in the Army shaped my understanding of leadership. I learned the value of discipline in holding myself accountable, the strength of teamwork in accomplishing missions, and the need for adaptability in certain situations.” Outside of work, Devin enjoys being an uncle, spending time outdoors, gaming, and time with his family.

 

Veterans Care Coordination proudly recognizes Devin Larzelere for his service to our country and is honored to have him as a member of our team at VCC. We are privileged to share the stories of our nation’s heroes. Thank you, Devin, for your service to our country and for your dedication to serving fellow Veterans and their families through your work at Veterans Care Coordination.

 

 

All images were taken in and around the city of Kirkuk, Iraq, between 2007 and 2008.