Dingus Banks, Jr

First Lieutenant
127TH MP CO, 93RD MP BN, 18TH MP BDE, USARV
Army of the United States
04 December 1946 - 04 February 1968
Columbus, Ohio
Panel 37E Line 018

USARV 18TH MP BDE
Military Police

Bronze Star, Purple Heart, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for Dingus Banks, Jr

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.


The point-of-contact for this memorial is
his wife,
Dian Clare (Banks)
dianclare@mac.com
04 Feb 2005



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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Last updated 04/30/2005