The HDB Name

What Does HDB Stand For?

HDB is named for 1st Lt Henry Dennis Babers, USMC. Dennis was the brother of our president, Cynthia Babers Stafford. 1st Lt Babers died on September 17, 1967 in Quang Tri Province, South Viet Nam.

1st Lt Babers was not killed by enemy gunfire. He died because he felt an extraordinary commitment to other human beings who were his responsibility.

A 23 year old Marine officer, 1st Lt Babers was a Platoon Commander with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Division. A platoon is made up of between 25 and 35 young men and in the context of armed combat, relationships in a platoon are a lot like those in a family, the commander being the responsible decision maker and his men the members he swore to lead well and protect.

Early Fall in Viet Nam is known for its sudden heavy downpours and September 1967 was no exception. Along with the other platoons, 1st Lt Babers’ and his men were camped on the banks of the Cam Lo River. After enduring weeks of battling North Vietnamese Communist troops in Con Tien’s difficult terrain, their mission was to guard the Cam Lo Bridge. First-hand reports from those who were there include the fact that while it was raining in the mountains to the North, it was not raining at the Cam Lo Bridge. However, around 1 a.m. the river suddenly began to rise and reports indicated that the water gained six feet in about an hour. 1st Lt Babers was alerted that soon there would be no way out of the camp which was surrounded by concertina wire and had only one way in and out. The angry river rose rapidly and overflowed its banks, cutting them off from safe, high ground.

When the men began moving out of camp, 1st Lt Babers said, “I’ll find a way out.” Several of 1st Lt Babers' men were swept away by angry, rising waters toward the heavily barbed wire that stretched across the stream. As stated on the citation posthumously presenting him the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, we are told by those who were present and knew 1st Lt Babers that “while leading a patrol to safe ground, he heard the call of one of his men who had been swept into some concertina wire. With complete disregard for his own safety, he immediately and without hesitation, dived into the deep, rushing water to help the man. Shortly thereafter, four more men were carried away by the swift current and ensnared by the wire. Lt Babers courageously swam from one man to another, freeing each in turn.” Horribly, at sunrise Company L Marines found that 1st Lt Babers had became entangled in the barbed wire and drowned.

HDB is based on the example set by 1st Lt Dennis Babers: Be so committed to building and keeping relationships that you consider them before yourself. We simply must become involved in building supportive relationships with those who face challenging life circumstances. That's the only chance our society has to survive and perpetuate itself.

Our business is much more than services, contracts, or payments. It's a way of honoring a man who showed us what caring and commitment mean; one who was willing to stake his life on his word.