Carrol Louis Banta

BANTA, CARROL LOUIS Carrol Louis Banta was born February 11, 1929, in Plaquemine, Louisiana to Jesse Paul and Nesida Mary (Guidry) Banta and died April 30, 2015, in El Paso, Texas. The youngest son in a family of eight children, Carrol graduated from Plaquemine High School in 1946. A lifelong soldier, he was in the United States Army for over 28 years serving from 1947 to 1975 during the Occupation of Japan, Korean War, Vietnam War and the Cold War and served multiple tours abroad in both Korea and Japan. In Japan, Carrol worked at the 406th Medical General Laboratory, both in Tokyo and at the US Army Medical Center at Camp Zama. Carrol trained in the medical technology field and during his career, he attended American University, Tulane University and Louisiana State University. From 1956 to 1959 he studied virology at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Washington, D.C. under Aaron E. Freeman, a protégé of Jonas Salk. Carrol obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Social Psychology from Park College in 1979. Starting in 1960, Carrol became a resident of El Paso, TX working at Ft Bliss in the Department of Pathology at William Beaumont Army Medical Center. He returned to Camp Zama, Japan in 1962. It was at Camp Zama that he met his second wife, Dr. Sumiko Ishii. She was a dentist in private practice with her father in Tokyo and at the dental clinic at the US Army Base at Camp Zama, Japan. They were married in Rockville, Maryland in February 1966 during a brief stint stateside. They returned to Japan where their two daughters were born, adding to Carrol’s son and daughter from a previous marriage. Upon their return to the United States in 1969, the family settled in El Paso, Texas where Carrol returned to his posting as the Chief Medical Techonologist (NCOIC) in the Department of Pathology at William Beaumont Army Medical Hospital, Fort Bliss and Sumiko became a full-time homemaker. He received numerous awards and commendations during his military service including the Army Commendation Medal (3d OLC), Good Conduct Medal (9 awards), Army of Occupation Medal (Japan), National Defense Service Medal (with 1 OLC), Korean Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Korea and the United Nations Service Medal Korea. Although he retired from the military in 1975 at the rank of Sergeant Major (E-9), he continued to progress in his profession in a civil service capacity finally retiring in 1990 as a GS-11. Carrol was a true Renaissance man with diverse interests including history, science and the arts. He prided himself on keeping fit and enjoyed sports such as boxing, swimming and weightlifting. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed gardening. He had a green thumb and made his desert environment bloom. Carrol enjoyed music and his tastes were eclectic, ranging from Marty Robbins to Wagner, from Jimmy Buffet to Anne Murray. He had diverse hobbies including woodworking, photography, traveling, reading and watching films and television. One of his most fulfilling hobbies was genealogy and he was able to trace the Banta family lineage back to the 1600s. His children have many fond memories of their father. His son, Robert, had this to say: “My dad was unlike any other. He was supportive in the shadows, but still allowed me to follow my arrow. Any career path I chose, he was always encouraging.” In speaking of him, Carrol’s daughter Rita recalls “proud and funny memories of an Army kid” which included “standing quietly by his side during the National Anthem at a military theater”, “finally remembering to walk by his left side so as not to get smacked in the head if he had to render a salute” and “seeing him at a school function dressed in his Class A uniform and looking so confident and handsome.” She added “I am very proud of my father's service to our country. I will miss my "Pop" and his words of advice and comfort.” Carrol’s two younger daughters, Vivian and Evelyn, have their own remembrances of their father. They recall him being a lifelong learner who passed on his love of books while teaching them such practical things such as how to throw and catch a football, how to garden, how to shoot, and how to do woodworking and basic home repairs. They recall a man who prided himself on dressing well and who would dance their mother around the room, singing “Goodnight Ladies”. They remember a focused and disciplined man who nevertheless would interrupt homework in the evenings with a “think fast!” and the toss of an orange or snack size candy bar. They remember his loud and annoying yet cheerful voice waking them up in the morning with “Oh, How I Hate to get up in the Morning” and “Oh What a Beautiful Morning.” And they recall a father who couldn’t cook a thing without burning it, but that was okay since their mother was such a wonderful cook. Carrol and Sumiko were together for 47 years. Upon his retirement, the couple greatly enjoyed traveling, sometimes with friends or family members, in the United States and in the Far East. They were planning a trip to Europe when Sumiko suffered a massive stroke in 2004 which left her bedridden. Carrol remained her steadfast companion and was devoted to her care until her death on April 29, 2013. Over the next two years, Carrol remained active, both mentally and physically. He continued to pursue his interests in current events, history, genealogy and physical fitness. His son Robert took him out for brunch almost every weekend which he greatly enjoyed. Additionally, Carrol was able to make a few more trips. In 2013, he visited his sisters in Louisiana as well as his old Army buddy, retired Colonel Earl Ziebell in Virginia. He finally made it to England in September 2013 with his daughter Vivian. And in April 2014, he enjoyed visiting Austin, TX with his two younger daughters, Vivian and Evelyn. In the fall of 2014, he and Earl returned to Seoul, Korea, participating in the Korea Revisit Program sponsored by the South Korean government and the Korean War Veterans Association and continued on to Tokyo, Japan where they had also served together. Carrol also spent time in Tokyo visiting with his late wife’s relatives. In early April 2015, Carrol was diagnosed with advanced multiple myeloma cancer and passed away in hospice care on April 30, 2015 at Sierra Medical Center. Carrol Louis Banta is survived by his son Robert Carrol Banta (El Paso, TX), his three daughters, Rita (Carl) Henderson, Vivian Banta (El Paso, TX) and Evelyn (David) Rismann (West Hills, CA), and two younger sisters, Mary Violet Banta Babin (Gonzales, LA) and Patricia “Patsy” Banta Roy (Westwego, LA) and a sister-in-law, Bessie (Callegan) Banta (Baton Rouge, LA). He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Alice Mary Banta Hernandez and four brothers, Jesse James Banta, Charles Eddy Banta, Nolan Robert Banta and Ernest Joseph Banta. Special thanks go to the medical professionals of 4 Medical/Renal at Sierra Medical Center and the caring nurses of La Mariposa Hospice. In particular, the family would like to thank Ruben Alvarado, RN, Julie Eisenhauer, CPT, Alegria Garcia,CPT , Leticia Gonzalez, RN, Graciela Isa, RN, Yodelia Hernandez, RN, Dr. Paul Mathew, Suzanne Oggs, RN, Jacqueline Ramirez, RN and Corina Velasquez, RN with Sierra Medical Center and Rachel Mazzarese, RN and Melissa Samaniego-Chesbro, RN with La Mariposa Hospice for treating our father with compassion, respect and kindness and for ensuring that his last days were comfortable and dignified. Final arrangements were handled in expert fashion by John Paniagua and Nathali Fragoso at Sunset Funeral Home, Northeast, El Paso, TX. A private ceremony was held on May 8, 2015 at Fort Bliss National Cemetery where his remains have been interred along with his late wife’s in Columbarium A, Space 98. If you weren’t fortunate enough to know him, you missed out on a learned and charming man who had a true passion for life and cared greatly for his loved ones. We will miss him very much.