Robert Lee Banks
Name: Robert Lee Banks
Rank/Grade: WO - W1 - Army - Reserve
Age: 21
Marital Status: Married
Race: Caucasian
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: Feb 22, 1945
From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Length of Service: 2 years
Tour Began: Jun 19, 1966
Casualty Date: August 27, 1966
Location: SOUTH VIETNAM
Hostile/Non-Hostile: Non-Hostile, died missin
Classification: HELICOPTER - PILOT AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body Recovered: Yes
Religion: Roman Catholic
Vietnam Memorial: Panel 10E - - Line 50
he will always live in my heart i miss him
Bob Banks and I got along immediaqtely after he arrived, probably because of our big city backgrounds (I’m from NYC). I’ll never forget the feeling I had when I was told of the crash that took his life as well as the lives of three other fine men; one, W.O. Perkins, who was about to DROS. Bob was in country for only 2 months and it shook me up big time. I know I have a picture of him as well as pictures of a lot of Rattlers vintage ’66 & ’67. I’ll try to dig one up to send in so that he can be seen in this place of honor. Thanks, Gary, for putting this remembrance page together.
There is a wall in Philadelphia commemorating those killed in Vietnam. When I found it (really I stumbled across it), I couldn’t stop staring at his name. I haven’t been to the wall in DC yet. Now I think I’ll hold off until 2004 so that I can be there with you guys.
GB
Rattler 29
March ’66 – March ’67
Bob and I had the same instruckter in P1 at Wolters. I have pictures of him on the flight line that I will try and find. When I do I’ll send them along. When I got to RVN and the Rattlers, Bob was one of the first to greet me. Seeing him, Dennis Hand and Charlie Morehouse made me feel right at home. The day that he and Perkins went down was a real bummer to say the least. I remember that I was in the hall way near the day room area when someone told me the news. I can’t remember exactly how I felt at that time. Maybe I’m still trying not to believe it. Bob had gotten married right after flight school. I’ve always thought that was the saddest part of his going. So unfare for his wife and him. God Bless Him Always
I would love to hear form anyone who knew my oldest brother. As all of you are, he was a hero in the truest sense of the word. Please send me any photos you may have of him and if others are in the photo as well, that is great too.
Bob and I were roomates at Fort Rucker for our advanced flight training. Our first three days at Fort Rucker was spent waxing a floor that was stauned with what, appeared to be, ink stains. We would get a good shine on the floor then a senior candidate would come in and order us to polish the floor and eliminate the stain. We never did get the stain out but we had a lot of laughs over it! He was a good friend and he will be remembered always!
I belong to a website called http://www.army.togetherweserved.com . This website is for current and former military members. I have chosen to adopt your brother as a Fallen Warrior and make a profile for him in order to honor him. I would appreciate any information regarding his awards, units or whatever in order to complete his profile. Once the profile is completed, I would like to send you a copy of it in didgital shawdowbox format.
I am a current Active Duty Army Infantry Officer. I have served two years in Iraq and I am currently serving a tour in Afghanistan. I have been in the Army for 12 years. I graduated from the Citadel in 2003 and was 5.5 yrs enlisted in the Army.
I am very interested in memorializing any fallen warrior. I also remember a friend of mine and his father telling me that he has an uncle who died in Vietnam while serving as a Helo pilot. Both of their names are Chuck Banks and they live in Pevely, MO. Pevely was a neighboring city next to Festus where I was born.
If there is anything else that you would like to know about myself, I am willing to share the information. I do not get any money for this, nor am I asking for anything, but just to honor your brother.
v/r
Jason Coad
CPT, United States Army
Afghanistan
Your are my Hero I never met. He was killed before I was born. I wish I knew more about you. But the family never got over the pain of losing you and couldn’t talk about it. We were afraid to ask. I didn’t want to bring up old wounds. I’m proud to be called your niece. My boys will know you
I still miss you, You live in my Heart
I never met my Uncle and afraid to Ask about him. I felt that my family never healed from the tragedy, and could not talk about it. Thank you for this site. This is where I get to meet him, thru you.
I would like to know more and be able to share with my family, I do not want him to be forgotten. I live near the Millville Army Air Field Museum in NJ. I took my daughter and both Nephews to shared with them that we too have a Solider that is a Hero, He is real and not just a picture on my aunts wall.
I never met my Uncle and afraid to ask about him. I felt that my family never healed from the tragedy, and could not talk about it. Thank you for this site. This is where I get to meet him, thru you.
I would like to know more and be able to share with my family, I do not want him to be forgotten. I live near the Millville Army Air Field Museum in NJ. I took my daughter and both Nephews to shared with them that we too have a Solider that is a Hero, He is real and not just a picture on my aunts wall. Thank you for posting pictures. Please share if you have more to share with me. Thank you.
Yes , they both lived , fought , and died in the same crash . Along with 2 other courageous young heroes . Sad after 50 years still .