Lawrence Joseph Babyak
Chief Warrant Officer
B TRP, 1ST SQDN, 9TH CAVALRY, 1ST CAV DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
Van Nuys, California
September 24, 1945 to November 29, 1969
LAWRENCE J BABYAK is on the Wall at Panel W15, Line 2

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Lawrence J Babyak
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2 Jan 2002

Some gave some; Some gave all.
You with my cousin WO1 Ken Luse
Gave all
11-29-69

For our family

R. W. "Doc" Luse USN Ret.
HMM-164 1ST MAW
67-68


 
02 April 2002

Through basic training, Wolters, and Rucker, you were a loyal friend.
A loss to the world, but a fond memory to many.

I'll always remember you, Larry.

From a friend,
Kevin Childs
childs@4asap.com


 
17 Sep 2002

Larry

You will always be remembered among our Brothers as one of the finest examples of those who wear the White Cross of Sigma Chi.
We miss you and we honor your ultimate sacrifice.

in hoc
Brothers of Zeta Xi Chapter
Sigma Chi Fraternity
California State University Northridge
Submitted by your former Magister,
a friend and Brother in Sigma Chi Fraternity
Randle M Biddle
windships@earthlink.net


 
30 Oct 2003

Seldom in life does one meet a person who stays in their hearts forever. It's been over thirty years since Larry flashed his smile or played a practical joke and the world has been a lesser place because of it. We grew up together as best friends and cohorts from grade school through college, then we went separate directions. Larry left to fullfill his adventure and I mine. Larry didn't return and I did.

One of the things Larry asked before he left for Viet Nam was that if anything happened, to remember him. Rest assured buddy, you will never be forgotten. So here's to you "Bimps" and have a cold beer and a hot pickle ready, because some day we'll ride those hills together again.

Rand
heshabu@ulink.net




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Larry Babyak during flight training.
Courtesy Rand.
BabyakLJ01e.jpg
Larry Babyak in Vietnam.
Courtesy Grant Curtis.

 
23 Feb 2006

Larry
I have always remembered our friendship.
I accepted your call sign and flew with it proudly.
I held your hand at the Wall.
Sleep well my friend.
Sleep well.
Sabre 22

From his copilot,
Mark Somerville
msiivt@fuse.net


 
12 Nov 2007

Larry,

MJ and I finally met in person at the 2006 Bullwhip Squadron Association Reunion. One thing she made perfectly clear, you loved chidren. You, like Ken, never realized holding your own child. I feel that you like so many others listed with you deserve the title of Guardian Angel. The following pertains to you also.

When I was very young in the early sixties, our family went to Des Moines to view the state capital. I recalled this trip on Veterans Day after reading stories about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. On our trip my father, a WWII Vet, wanted to see the WWII memorial for the state's loss in that war.

I remember how the three of us boys were climbing and seeing who could get the highest up on it. Mom and Dad both told us to get down and have respect for the names. Being the great thinker that I am, I thought they are just names and I don't know any of them, what's the big to do? Still I got down and became quiet and from that moment on when I see names on a monument I view them with respect. But I still remember how the monument was warm to the touch.

After the thought of our trip, I recalled the 8mm film my grandfather took at a family get together while Ken was home before departing for Vietnam. Grandpa was out shooting film of my youngest cousin, a three year old girl. She was by the door and Ken opens the door, comes out and picks her up and holds her with the expression of a loving father. A look he never got to experience with his own child. That is my favorite memory of Ken. Ken is now named on a monument and very few children who see his name know who he was.

As I read the stories about The Wall and other local walls across the country, it dawned on me, so many writers describe them as cold pieces of stone. Evidently these writers don't know that a child's touch isn't the same as an adult's. A child can feel loving warmth in anything they touch. Let the children play around and touch the monuments, they just might get a warm hug from within, a hug from their Guardian Angels.

Glen Luse
Brother of your co-pilot that day
gpkaluse@lisco.com


 

A Note from The Virtual Wall

Two men of the 9th Cavalry Regiment were killed when their AH-1G COBRA gunship (hull number 68-15188) was shot down. They were attempting the rescue of a "Jaguar Yellow Bird" team about 10 kilometers west-northwest of Song Be when their aircraft was hit by .51 caliber anti-aircraft fire. The two were CW2 Lawrence Joseph Babyak, pilot, and WO1 Kenneth Alan Luse, copilot.

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