THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. May you rest in eternal peace.

Corporal Lawrence Benjamin Banek, Served with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, United States Army Vietnam.

You were my neighbor on Broad street. You knew my family the Hudsons. My sister liz and brothers Tom & Jim were closer to your age. My sister Bernadette and I were closer in age to your sister Veronica. I remember coming home from school one day and my mother told me of your passing. I remember how devastated your family was, it was such a terrible loss. I was only 13, but I remember how it brought the reality of that tragic war home to me. It's sad that so many young men like you had to lose their lives in a war that was do divisive. I visited the Wall in DC once and found your name, so many have gone there to pay their respects for the sacrifice you men made. I'm 62 now and my memories of you have faded. I remember you as a good looking young man with the big ham radio antenna in your yard. I've always wondered if with your experience and education they made you a radio operator. I do remember seeing you hanging out with guys your age down by the bank on broad street. And seeing your car in the driveway. I'm not sure what kind it was, maybe a corvair? Your sacrifice and loss are not forgotten. Rest In Peace

I first met Larry when I was in High School and was a member of the Pawtucket Amateur Radio Club in Pawtucket, RI. Larry and I have many things in common. We both were Ham Radio Operators. Both went to Wentworth college. After Wentworth we both worked for Sanders Associates in Nashua New Hampshire and Larry was my room mate living in an A frame house in Windom NH. We worked in different departments at Sanders. Sanders was a defense contractor and we were supposed to get occupational deferments from the draft board. However in 1968 there was a major buildup of troops in Vietnam and we were shot down by the draft board. Larry and I both received our draft notice at the same time. I didn't want to be in the Army so I enlisted into the Navy, probably the best decision I have ever made in my life. Larry was drafted into the Army and of course ended up in Vietnam. I also went to Vietnam aboard the aircraft carrier Ranger which for the most part was pretty safe duty unless you were a pilot. I worked on electronic countermeasurs while in the Navy. I heard of Larry's death from my mother while I was there off the coast of Vietnam. I couldn't beleive it at the time and i felt if Larry had just joined the Navy like I did he would still be here with us. I think of Larry often and some day I hope to visit the Vietnam Memorial and pay my respects to Larry.

Larry, I was a little girl when we met. Your parents and Sister were very close to my family. A lot of support when my Dad, William L Seastrom died in Vietnam in 1966. I hope you and my Dad found each other in Heaven. You will never be forgotten