BMC Bannister was the first KIA of TF 117 at Long An. May he rest in peace

A note from The Virtual Wall On 11 July 1967 TF-117 units were supporting Operation Coronado Concordia in Can Giouc District, Long An Province. At 0945, a claymore mine was triggered when T-112-4 dropped her ramp to land elements of A Company 4th/47th Infantry, wounding 7 sailors and 4 soldiers. Five minutes later, at 0950, river monitors M-112-1 and M-111-1 were hit by recoilless rifle rounds, but sustained no casualties and both boats continued their missions. The supporting boats continued to receive small arms fire throughout the day, and at 1620, T-112-7 received a B-40 round on starboard side of the bow ramp; no personnel casualties resulted. At 1758, M-112-1 took a B-40 round in the conning station, killing the Boat Captain (Chief Boatswain Bannister) and claiming six USN wounded in action. The monitor returned to the MRB for repairs and was back in the area of operation at 1700 on 12 July.

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