I never had the honor of meeting Salvador (Sal) Banaga Jr., in life, but I couldn't love him more if he'd been born into my family. As it turned out, I was adopted into his. He was the oldest son of Sal and Siria Banaga, older brother of six surviving Banaga children. Born and raised in Holtville, California, in the agricultural Imperial Valley.
Sal loved art and music. Several of his beautiful oil paintings show real, and growing, talent. He played in a local rock and roll band during high school. He was killed in action at age 22.
Sal served in the Army- Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment (Cacti Green), Viet Nam.
More below:
Link to grainy picture of Sal and decorations he earned:
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http://www.cacti35th.org/...}
Below a Feb. 9th, 1968 written memory from Victor DeMitchell, who served with Sal in Vietnam.
[http://www.cacti35th.org/...]
THE FINALE IS FROM VICTOR J. DEMITCHELL, C 1/35
A stark, compelling, and oddly eloquent grunt's-eye view of the battle.
"Events that happened 34 years ago are hard to remember. They are even harder since my conscious mind has blocked them out and allows me to glimpse them only in my nightmares. I remember bits and pieces of the Feb 9th, 1968 fire fight and the days leading-up to it. In retrospect, I think I knew we were in a bad place but didn't, or wouldn't, believe it. This will be very difficult for me to write. My doctor and my best and closest friend recommended I do it in memory of those that lost their lives. Here is what I remember."
(Snip) (Highlights are mine)
"I remember seeing a tree line ahead, and then all hell broke loose; incoming sniper fire and mortars. Lt. Lewellyn was hit as were 3-4 others, one being a medic. I remember trying to help Joe with a gauze bandage, giving him some water and distinctly remember giving him his 45 pistol. Another I helped had a very bad leg wound. I did what I could for him and then realized that if I didn't start firing back I would be dead. Many mortar rounds were falling, B40 rockets were exploding and I was terrified. I was in a line with 6-8 others and remember looking over a berm and seeing 40-50 enemy soldiers running in full view in front of me. It's like they were asking to be shot--they were not ducking or anything. I also saw Lt. Jerry Novakovich standing up and trying to direct 2nd platoon and, as he was giving orders, he was shot and killed. This is a very vivid memory. He was a brave man. I think the group I was in was on the left side (don't know which direction, N-E-S or W) and was cut off from the rest of the company. Why I think this I don't know, but there were very few of us together. After about 10 minutes of firing, I was low on ammo and crawled out to try and find some. I remember finding a buddy (KIA), Sp4 Mark Kay from California. I retrieved some 16 rounds and a LAW and crawled back. There was a drainage ditch in front of us and about 200 yards straight ahead was a small bridge running over this ditch. A few gooks were hiding there; it seemed to be a crossing point for them. A sergeant caught one of them with his 14, sending him down. It's as if this happened yesterday it's so clear. I remember gun ships arriving and on my radio speaking to, I believe, someone from battalion in a chopper.
From here on I remember little except a loud explosion. When I came to, a medic was bending over me, putting dressings on me. I now know that a mortar round exploded in the middle of us, killing Sal Banaga, Steve?, Tom Backy and Bob Sharpless?.
I remember my buddy Bob Fritsche (later KIA at Mile High) talking to me, telling me everything was gonna be OK. I was lying in a line with other wounded.
No medevacs were available that day, and I remember spending a cold night. Co B had joined us and it was the morning of the 10th that I was taken to the NSA hospital in DaNang.
I write this in memory of Bob, Paul, Tom and Sal. You guys were the best. May God keep you in his arms till I get there and we'll listen to the Stones and have some beers."
Sal, as my adopted brother, although we never met, I honor you today. Veterans Day. I think of you often. So handsome and so young. So much sorrow for your family. When your beautiful mother, Siria, passed away last year she was buried with the clothing you wore when you played in your band. She never told a soul, except her sister, that she had kept your clothes, or of her wishes to be buried with those clothes. She is buried in the same Calexico cemetery, not far from your grave.
Flowers and tears mixed with love and loss.
Bless you, Sal. We love you and miss you.
BANAGA SALVADOR M L JR, KIA 2/9/1968, (Army/PFC/C1/35th) Vietnam Vets Wall 38E, 047.