BANK’S BANDITS

The Untold Story Of The Original

Green Berets

Home

Read an Excerpt

The author (on the left) with Sgt. McInerney on Aaron DZ, Bad Tolz, Bavaria, December, 1953 

BANK’S BANDITS is a novel about the birth of the Green Berets and the coming of age of draftee James Fitzpatrick. Go with James from Boston’s “three-decker” houses in the 1950s into the army. Follow him through Jump School and leap with him out the door of a 34-foot tower, then free fall off a 250-foot tower’s arm, and finally shuffle up and out the door on his first jump from a plane. Follow James to Fort Bragg and on into the newly formed and highly secretive world of Special Forces. Experience with him the rigors of survival problems and training in the arts of unconventional warfare.

After James earns his place on an A-Team, follow him as he night jumps into North Carolina and later into the Georgia mountains to take part in Special Forces’ first guerrilla warfare problems. In the field they raise an army of local mountain men and boys—and their operations are marked by such adventures as stealing the 82^nd’s “Sunday” dinner, running other nerve-shattering risks to exploit “targets of opportunity,” and taking part in “run for your life” escapes with the angry 82^nd hot on their heels. Be with Fitz and several of his team members as they land in a local Georgia slam following a humiliating capture by the 82^nd after a team member’s cover is blown.

“This book recounts some of the most hilarious training events ever recorded …now an authentic part of the written history of Special Forces.”

B. Abell Jurus, Co-Author of Men In Green Faces (A Novel of U.S. Navy SEALs)

“Fascinating, genuinely exciting, surprisingly informative, and quite possibly the funniest book I’ve ever read.”

Wendy S. Neal, Esquire, Phoenix, AZ.

“A dead-on depiction of ‘The Originals’…a classic… will delight all who respect the Green Berets.”

Justin “Gene” McCarthy, LTC (Ret), Special Forces (1962 to 1972).

About the Author:

Edward F. Fitzgerald is one of the “originals” who served with 10^th Special Forces when that outfit was first formed at Fort Bragg under the command of Colonel Aaron Bank (the “father of the Green Berets”).Bank’s Bandits is named for, and dedicated first, to Colonel Bank. It is also dedicated to all those with whom the author had the honor of serving, and to all the members of Special Forces past and present. This is his first novel.

A Massachusetts trial lawyer for many years, he is now a consultant and legal writer. Following an inspired burst of sanity in 2000, he and Ginny, his wife of more than 30 years, relocated to Arizona’s beautiful Valley of the Sun where they now reside with five annoyingly literate cats. Ginny, an excellent ballroom dancer, keeps Ed in condition chasing her over every dance floor from Apache Junction to Sun City.

Author’s Note: While the book is an historically accurate memoir of the author’s experiences in the 10^th Special Forces, it is presented in a fictionalized form to allow a few composite characters to represent the many that were actually involved in the incidents recounted.

If you would like to email the author
or comment on the book click HERE.