After high school, Larry attended the University of Kentucky where he joined the Air Force R.O.T.C program. In 1964, he graduated with a B.S. in Business and received his commission in the U.S. Air Force. Larry was nearing the end of his Active Duty Commitment when several of the pilots in the 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron made a recommendation that he be offered a ride-along in an F-100 Sabre. Larry got the approval, and the flight was a life-changing experience. He liked flying, and the Wing Commander recommended that he go to flight school. Upon graduation, he completed F-4 tactical fighter training and was assigned as a fast-forward air controller.

His Squadron was deployed twice to Ubon Air Force Base in Thailand to fly linebacker missions against North Vietnam. It was on the return from one of these missions that his wingman was shot down by a surface-to-air missile. Larry and the Pilot of their F4 disregarded their personal safety to remain over the downed crewman's position to direct search and rescue forces. Their tenacious efforts resulted in the successful recovery of the crew members from hostile territory amid a constant barrage of enemy fire. Larry Henry served four combat tours in Vietnam where he flew 320 combat missions. In 1982 he was selected as one of only 20 Air Force Officers to attend The National War College. He served as Division Chief for Air Force Weapons at The Pentagon In 1990, Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, and General Henry was deployed to Headquarters Central Air Command as Chief of the Electronic Combat Division. He was instrumental in the planning of the Desert Storm Air Campaign, which turned out to be one of the most successful air campaigns in U.S. Air Force history.