FORT SILL, Okla. (March 20, 2014) -- Leaders from 1st Battalion, 40th Field Artillery visited one of their former members March 3 at the Lawton-Fort Sill Veterans Center in Lawton.

Lt. Col. Scott Ringwald and his command group visited David Banky and his wife, Lee Etta.

Throughout the visit, Banky and his wife shared many stories about Vietnam, their shared experiences, and about 1-40th FA in those days.

Banky was born in New York and raised in Maryland where he was drafted into the Army. He served in the 1-40th FA during the Vietnam War from August 1965 to October 1966.

Banky worked as a cook near the demilitarized zone with the 1-40th FA where he often ran ammo drops and went on patrols with the unit.

He spoke of how the artillery barrels would melt due to the high volume of artillery fired in support of the Army and Marine Corps missions.

He and his wife wrote each other every day while he was gone; at one time Banky said he received 33 letters from his wife in one day because the mail was held for a month.

While in Vietnam, Banky injured his left knee and was forced to return stateside to Walter Reed Army Medical Center for treatment.

While there, he was told he would not return to Vietnam. Since then he has had 14 surgeries on his knee, culminating in an amputation.

His service time included duty at Fort Sill, which led to his long residency here.

Banky was updated on the battalion's mission and embraced as part of the 1-40th FA. At the end, leaders gave Banky a gift thanking him for his service and the time he shared with the unit.