July 2026 Remembrance
Larry Clayton Banks, Vietnam War
November 7, 1967 Binh Long
By Jim Watkins
Brown County Historical Society
The basic accounting of Brown County’s contribution to our nation’s service in the Vietnam War as listed on the Courthouse Memorial is: Served, 47, Killed, 1.
Larry Banks was that one fatality now memorialized on the Vietnam Memorial.
HONORED ON PANEL 29E, LINE 37 OF THE WALL
Many readers who have attended events in the Brown County High School gymnasium will recognize Larry Banks’s name. As reported in the November 9, 1994, edition of the Democrat, that year’s Veterans Day ceremonies would include the official naming of the gymnasium as the Larry C. Banks Memorial Gymnasium.
Larry had graduated from Brown County High School in 1966 and in 1967 volunteered for the army. At this time troop numbers were advancing towards their peak which would be reached in 1968 so there was not much mystery where Larry would end up after his basic training.
Larry Clayton Banks, Vietnam War, Age 19
As the squad came under heavy fire from the Viet Cong they tried to withdraw. PFC Banks fired on the enemy from an open position enabling his comrades to reach cover. With the squad maneuvering to return to their main group, Larry Banks remained behind to provide cover fire. He was mortally wounded as he attempted to rejoin the group. It was determined that his action allowed other soldiers to safely return to the main force. PFC Banks received the Bronze Star award posthumously for his actions on November 7, 1967. (POSTED BY: [email protected])
On November 9th a sergeant from Fort Harrison delivered the telegram with news to Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Banks of rural Nashville that their son Larry C. Banks had been fatally wounded in Vietnam. Larry had three sisters, Sue “Sandy”, Linda, and Kathy.
Larry is buried in the Brown County Memorial Park Cemetery.
Larry has four pages of responses on the virtual Wall of Faces. One was posted by Shirley Tingley a 7th grade classmate of Larry on April 22, 2021.
I often wondered what happened to Larry Banks! We were in the 7th grade together in 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 high school 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 family has suffered!
Thank you, Michael O’Hara* and the people of Brown County, for honoring the memory of Larry Clayton Banks and the 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!
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*Michael, also a Vietnam vet in the Marines was involved in the siege of Khe Sanh one of the most contentious confrontations of the entire war. He and Larry were close friends and volunteered at the same time. Michael is also on the virtual Wall of Faces.
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A YouTube video on Larry done by the Brown County High School History Club is available.
