Like other young men, Larry E. Martens had his dreams.

One of them was to be a truck driver like his father, said his former high school counselor. To get some experience, he entered the U.S. Marine Corps shortly after graduating from De Pere High School.

His father and uncles had served in the Marines said Jeanne Van Hefty, a famly friend and Larry's counselor during his junior and senior years. Larry did follow his footsteps and entered the service shortly after graduating in June 1978. He was stationed at Kanoehe Marine Base in Honolulu, Hawaii.

But, 19-year old Lance Corporal Martens didn't have much of a chance to realize his other ambitions. Life ended tragically for the son of Roger and Pat Martens, 435 N. St. Bernard Drive, De Pere.

The bodies of Martens and Lance Corporal Rodney Padilla of Portland, Ore., were found Sunday morning in Maumalau Bay Beach Park on the island of Oahu. Both had been brutally beaten. The deaths are still under investigation by Honolulu Police detectives.

Mrs. Van Hefty had known Larry since birth. She went to school with his parents, attended college and taught with his mother. "He was a nice-looking kid,: she said, "With a kind of baby face and his freckles and dark eyes, you just wanted to hug him."

She and other teachers describe him as a polite young man whose open personality seemed to attract others. He was an average student, well liked by students and teachers.

During his last three years in high school, Larry was on John Marchant's golf team. An average player, he got along with the other players and was a lot of fun on trips, said Marchant, an ex-Marine. "He was just a nice boy. His death shocked us all."

Another of Larry's high school interests was carpentry. In woodworking, said Tom Kopitzke, his teacher for four years, he was above average. "He was a thoroughly likeable individual."

Jeff Trousil was Larry's close friend for 11 years. What was special about him? "Just about everything, I guess. Everybody would have liked to have had him as a friend."

And, adds another friend and former classmate, Bill Van Nole; "He was a happy-go-lucky guy who got along with everybody."

He said Larry signed up for the Marines when he was 16 and entered active duty within weeks after graduating from high school at 17.

Paul Trachte was a freshman on the golf team when Larry was a senior. The two also played several times a week during the summer. "He was a super guy. He always went out of his way to give me a ride, helping out without asking for anything in return." Trachte said.

Mrs. Van Hefty said Larry was scheduled to return home on leave but canceled the trip to sign up for a cruise. Recently, Larry sent his parents a box containing t-shirts he had collected during his tours and a wall-hanging of the Last Supper.

She and Larry had discussed his decision to join the Marines. He wanted to serve not only to travel and meet new people but to gain on-the-job training for his goal of becoming a truck driver.

Mr. Martens was a graduate of East De Pere High School Class of 1978 and had joined the U.S. Marine Corps on June 20, 1978.

Survivors include his parents; one sister, Melissa, at home; maternal grandmother, Mrs. Doris Cook, Lena; paternal grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Densing, Goodman.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Tammy.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later by the Cotter Funeral Home, De Pere.