THE WALL OF FACES

Operation Shenandoah II was a security operation from September 29 to November 19, 1967, conducted by the U.S. Army’s 1st and 3rd Brigades, 1st Infantry Division, to secure and repair Highway QL-13 and cut enemy infiltration routes into III Corps from Cambodia. On the eighth day of the operation, the 3rd Brigade's 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment moved to a firebase northeast of Loc Ninh in Binh Long Province, RVN, and began probing east towards where the Viet Cong 272nd Regiment was believed in the area. The following morning, November 7th, with Company A remaining to guard the firebase, the rest of 1/26 Infantry left to patrol a dirt road bordered by a rubber plantation near Srok Rung, five miles northeast of Loc Ninh. At 1:05 PM, the column entered the rubber trees and chased some enemy combatants into a U-shaped ambush. Camouflaged North Vietnamese Army (NVA) soldiers were hidden high in trees and in ground-level brush. Their initial barrage of rocket-propelled grenades killed the entire 1/26 command element, including Battalion Commander LTC Arthur D. Stigall, and disabled most of their radios. On the road, small arms and machine gun fire raked the rest of the column. Eighteen Americans were killed and twenty-two were wounded; a Vietnamese interpreter was also killed. Company D, at the rear of the column, maneuvered to prevent the NVA from outflanking them. Its commander assumed temporary command of the battalion, calling in air and artillery strikes to cover the unit as it withdrew to a more defensible position. After an hour of fighting, the NVA broke contact. The lost Americans included Stigall (posthumously awarded Distinguished Service Cross and promoted to Colonel), PFC Larry C. Banks, SP4 Lawrence W. Barkley, SP4 Billie J. Barnett Jr., SP4 James R. Brown, PFC Walter C. Bunyea Jr., PSG George D. Clayton (posthumously awarded Silver Star medal), CPT Michael D. Cochran, SP4 John R. Ensell, 1LT Terry A. Hendricks (posthumously awarded Bronze Star medal), SGT Charles E. Long, SGT Ronald H. Payne (posthumously awarded Bronze Star medal), 1SG Pascal C. Poolaw Sr. (posthumously awarded Silver Star medal), PFC Ronald G. Stoltenow, SP4 Robert F. Stryker (posthumously awarded Medal of Honor), SP4 Clarence L. Shaw, (posthumously awarded Distinguished Service Cross), SP4 Larry E. Turner, and SP4 John E. Young. Enemy dead was reported at sixty-six (by body count). [Taken from virtualwall.org and “ARMY 1967 1st Brigade 1st Infantry Div AAR” at ttu.edu]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from Shirley Tingley is especially poignant. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us....

I often wondered what happened to Larry Banks! We were in the 7th grade together at Petersville Grade School in 1961. Not only was he cute, but as I remember, Larry was a sweet and kind boy. Little did I know that I would find my answer 61 years later reading the obituaries.

Yesterday ( April 20, 2021), I learned of the good friendship of Larry and Michael O'Hara in their highschool so many years ago. Michael's obituary told of Larry's Vietnam experience and the only one from Brown County that lost their life there. November 7th, 1967, after only two months in the Army, Larry Banks died in Vietnam. As I read this, my heart was broken and tears filled my eyes for this young 7th grader who died too soon and for the pain and the grief that his family has suffered!

Thank you Michael O'Hara and the people of Brown County for honoring the memory of Larry Clayton Banks and for naming the new gymnasium after him! For this one Vietnam Hero, who was honored and respected by his loving community, this is an example for all to see the Great American Spirit on display for their fallen Son! Rest in Peace Larry Clayton Banks!

18 soldiers were KIA that day
Larry was one of them
He died a Soldier’s death....fighting and defending his Infantry Brothers to the end
God Bless You Larry
And God Bless the Your 17 Infantry Brothers who fell with you on that day in 1967

We still remember you
We still talk about you
God Bless You Larry
Rest In Peace knowing that you gave All you HAD