04 Feb 2005 First Lieutenant Dingus Banks, Jr. was my husband. He was killed at Qui Nhon City in Phu Yen province on Feb 4, 1968. He was serving as an MP with the US army and was shot by sniper fire as he led his men into a building that had been over-taken by enemy combatants. He was a natural leader and a good man. After his death, I received many kind letters from the men in his company. He attended Otterbien College after high school on a football scholarship and worked for the Ohio Bell telephone company before entering the service. I still miss him. He loved life so much and I'm saddened by how short his own life was. I'm also grateful for the time I got to share with him. Dian Clare (Banks) dianclare@mac.com

 

29 Apr 2005 Dingus Banks was the officer who broke me in in 1967, right after I graduated from OCS. Not only was he a great young officer and leader, but was a great friend, as well. He was the MP Operations Officer at Hunter Army Air Field and I was the platoon leader. It was my privilege to call him my friend. Wally Gossett wjgossett@bellsouth.net

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall 1Lt Dingus Banks was assigned to the 127th MP Company which was responsible for provost duties within Qui Nhon City. The circumstances of his death are described in the 117th MP Detachment History on the Fort Drum web site: "During the Tet Offensive of 1968, the VC attacked Qui Nhon early on the morning of 30 January 1968, capturing the Vietnamese Radio Station, MSS Headquarters, Quan Cahn Station, Railroad Station and part of the Qrirrang Hotel. The 177th Military Police Detachment Compound was located in the middle of the area attacked; personnel of the unit and attacked Military Police units were in periodic combat. One attacked Military Policeman was killed and four were wounded. At 1830 hours, 3 February 1968, the Military Police Duty Officer, 1LT Dingus Banks, 127th MP Co, was shot and killed while clearing one of the last remaining VC elements in Qui Nhon." The Army's casualty database indicates Lieutenant Banks was wounded as described above and died from his wounds some hours later on 04 Feb 1968.

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