Bank most notably broke new ground when in 1952 he was named commander of the Fort Bragg-based 10^th Special Forces Group (Airborne) — the Army’s first official special warfare unit, for which he had led the fight to create.

The announcement of Bank’s death has been difficult news for Green Berets around the world, said Special Forces spokesman Maj. Robert Gowan.

“Colonel Bank’s passing marks a sad day for the Special Forces regiment,” Gowan said.  “Colonel Aaron Bank was the Father of Special Forces — he was a legend.  His initiative and vision allowed the Army to create the U.S. Army Special Forces as we know them today, and every Special Forces Soldier in the Army will mourn his death.”

Born on Nov. 23, 1902 in New York City, Bank traveled extensively in Europe and became fluent in French and German before entering the U.S. Army in 1939. 

In 1943, after completing Officer Candidate School, Bank volunteered for duty with the Office of Strategic Services and was assigned to a Jedburgh team— a small, first-of-its-kind unconventional warfare outfit.  Bank and his Jedburgh team made a combat parachute jump into Southern France in August 1944, where they successfully employed hit-and-run tactics to harass Nazi forces withdrawing up the Rhone River. 

After World War II ended, the OSS was disbanded, but Bank and Col. Russell Volckmann, another OSS operative, both remained in the military and worked tirelessly to convince the Army to adopt an unconventional, guerilla-style force.  They found an ally in Brig. Gen. Robert McClure, who at the time headed the Army’s psychological warfare staff at the Pentagon.

Bank and Volckmann convinced Army leaders that there were areas in the world not susceptible to conventional warfare — especially Soviet-dominated eastern Europe — that would make ideal candidates for unconventional warfare operations.  Special operations, as envisioned by the two men — and Bank in particular — were a force multiplier, meaning that a small number of highly-trained Soldiers could create disproportionate amounts of trouble for enemy forces.

It was a bold idea that went against the grain of traditional concepts, but by 1952 the Army was ready to embark into a new era of warfare.  After months of preparation, the 10^th Special Forces Group (Airborne) was activated at Fort Bragg, N.C., with Bank as its commander.

On the day of its activation, the total strength of the group was 10 Soldiers — Bank, one warrant officer, and eight enlisted men.  But that would soon change, and just over 50 years later, the nearly 10,000 Soldiers of the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) continue to sustain the fight that Bank began at the opening of the Cold War.

Today, the Special Forces and other special operations units that Bank helped create serve as the tip of the spear for the U.S. military in the Global War on Terrorism during contingencies like Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and many others around the world.

Over the course of his storied military career, Col. Bank earned a number of prestigious awards and decorations, including: the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Soldier's Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asia-Pacific Campaign Medal with bronze campaign star, the Europe-Asia-Middle East Campaign Medal with bronze campaign star, the World War Victory Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the China War Memorial Badge and ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge with combat star, the Special Forces tab and the St. Philip Neri Special Forces Medal.

On Nov. 23, 2002, Col. Bank celebrated his 100th birthday with his family in southern California.

Col. Bank is survived by his wife, Catherine, and their two daughters, Linda Ballantine of Dana Point, Calif., and Alexandra Elliott of Anaheim, Calif.

The Bank family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation at P.O. Box 14385, Tampa, FL 33690.

FOR THE MEDIA / GENERAL PUBLIC

Memorial services for Col. Bank, which will be open to the public, are scheduled at the following locations and times:

Viewing will take place on Sunday, April 4 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lesneski Mortuary, located at 640 South El Camino Real, San Clemente, Calif.  Funeral services, which are also open to the public, will be held at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, Calif., on Monday, April 5 at 1 p.m.  The funeral service will include full military and Special Forces honors.

It is recommended that visitors use Ontario, John Wayne (Orange County), or San Bernadino airports to minimize potential traffic delays enroute to these ceremonies and events.  Military visitors should fly into March Air Reserve Base, Calif.

For further information and assistance, the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) will operate a visitor information center at the Holiday Inn San Clemente Resort, 111 S. Avenue De La Estrella, San Clemente, Calif.  The center will be open starting Saturday, April 3, and can be reached by phone at (949) 361-3000.