Macario: "Gone But Not Forgotten"

This is in memory of my uncle. This is taken from the La Familia Banda web site that is updated by a family member.

Today is Macario’s 59th Birthday. He was born on February 28, 1948. Macario graduated from Del Valle High School in 1965. He attended barber school after graduation. Macario was drafted into the Army in 1968. He received basic training at Fort Polk in Louisiana and was assigned to the United States Army, 11th Light Infantry Brigade. In August 1968, after only six weeks of basic training, Macario was sent into combat in the jungles of Vietnam. Macario was killed by a land mine in Quang Ngai, South Vietnam on February 11, 1969 while conducting reconnaissance. Macario was 20 years old, just 17 days short of his 21st birthday. At the time of his death, Macario was engaged to be married to Linda Cancino, Augustin's sister.

The following is an excerpt from a message sent to Macario at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial website from a fellow comrade from Bowdon, Georgia in 2000.

"In same squad.wounded same time. Gone But Not Forgotten. Banda, I have thought of you many times over the past thirty years and it all seems like yesterday. A lot has come and gone since that hot afternoon in Vietnam, but I will always remember you for your story of Bonnie @ Clyde in Texas. I was hit from the same mine that got you and most of our squad. You are a Hero and I'am proud to have known you. David Marino (MO)”