Lawrence A Yates

Lawrence A. Yates, 77, died on October 12th at his home in Overland Park, Kansas. He attended Pershing and Frances Willard elementary schools and graduated from Paseo High School in 1963. After briefly studying chemical engineering, he changed his college major to history, receiving his B.A. and M.A. degrees in that subject from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and his Ph.D. from Kansas University. 

During the mid-to-late 1970s, he taught history at UMKC as a visiting instructor while also conducting research at the Harry S. Truman Library for Robert J. Donovan’s 2-volume history of Truman’s presidency. In 1981, Larry accepted a position with the Combat Studies Institute at Ft. Leavenworth, KS where he researched and wrote history for the U.S. Army and taught at the Army’s Command and General Staff College. After retiring from the CSI, he began contract work for the Army’s Center of Military History in Washington, D.C.

During his employment at CSI and continuing into his retirement, he wrote several books for the military, including one on the US intervention in the Dominican Republic, two on our intervention in Panama, and at the time of his death was in the process of editing his completed manuscript on our military action in Somalia including the Black Hawk Down incident. Larry had a lifetime passion for music. He learned how to play both the banjo and guitar as a teen, and played both right up until his death.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert L. and Florence L. Yates and his brother Stephen A. Yates. He is survived by his sister, Nancy L. Yates and many family members and friends. There will be no service at this time. Anyone wishing to make a memorial gift should contribute to their favorite charity in Larry’s name.