Joe Marvin Banks II

Born in Ft Worth, Texas July 10, 1947, died June 13, 2024, Rescue, California. Moved to Panama City, Florida at age 11 to join his mother and his stepfather, who was stationed at Tyndall, AFB. Attended Everitt Jr High and the new Rutherford High School, graduating in its second class as valedictorian. Attended Gulf Coast Jr College and was the sophomore class president. Graduated from Florida State University in 1969 as a Distinguished Military Graduate from the Air Force ROTC Program with a BS degree in Mathematics.

Tendered a regular officer commission as a second lieutenant, he immediately attended Navigator Flight Training at Mather AFB, CA. Here he met the love of his life, and subsequently married Barbara Ann Holmes in Jan 1971, to begin life as a military family.

Barbara taught school in North Carolina, while Joe qualified in the C-130 airplane at Pope AFB. He planned and executed air drops of heavy equipment and hundreds of paratroopers from the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions and flew airlift missions all over the world. In the summer of 1971, he was awarded the Air Medal for outstanding airmanship in flying humanitarian relief missions for 3 months in eastern India, during the Bangladesh War. In the spring of 1972, he was reassigned to Special Operations Command in the AC-130 Gunship and sent to Ubon Thailand, after upgrade training at Hurlburt AFB, Fl. For the next year, he flew over 400 hours of direct fire combat in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. He was awarded several citations for valor under fire, including 7 more Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Sadly, the 12 crewmembers he trained with for months at Hurlburt were all killed over Laos on Dec 215 1972. For the rest of his life he would honor them on this day.

After the war, Joe returned to Mather as a flight instructor and was subsequently selected for the Master of Science degree program. He had his choice of MIT, Stanford or the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). He selected AFIT, as it would lead to a new career path in program management. Over the next 12 years, he would lead many Air Force smart weapons and aircraft programs, both at Eglin AFB and Wright Patterson AFB, such as being the Chief of Advanced Avionics and Armament on the F-16 fighter development. For his program leadership and success in these acquisition efforts, he was awarded 5 Meritorious Service Medals, which is the peacetime equivalent of the bronze star. In addition, he was competitively selected to attend several advanced staff and senior officer education programs. He graduated number one in his class of over 800 officers from the Air Command and Staff College, as well as later graduating from both the prestigious Defense Systems Management College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at the National Defense University, earning him the equivalent of another master's degree in strategic leadership.

Promoted ahead of his peers to both Lt Colonel and full Colonel, he was selected to be the Commandant of the Technology Management School at the Air University, Maxwell AFB Alabama. Here he was in charge of a new initiative by the Secretary of the Air Force called "Bold Stroke", to educate general officers in the critical nature of software acquisition to our warfighting capabilities.

One of his students was the Commander of Air Force ROTC and requested that Joe be assigned a special duty to evaluate one of his failing units, and revitalize or close it. He assumed command mid-year at Texas State University with a new staff and went to work. Three years later his unit won the highest honor AFROT gives, as the number 1 unit in the nation, out of 144. He was awarded a rare "Outstanding in Command" by the USAF IG team.

For his achievement, he was selected to command the AFROTC Southwest Region of 36 units in 10 states, one quarter of all AFROTC officer training. During this period he directed the training and commissioning of thousands of new officers, as well as evaluating the performance of each unit and its personnel. Each of his units excelled in their inspections by the Air Force Inspector General for all 4 years of his tenure. For these accomplishments, he was awarded the prestigious Legion of Merit, one of the highest peacetime medals.

Joe loved being in command and was a commander the last 9 years of his career. At his retirement ceremony he was recognized for many things, but the most precious to him was that given by the enlisted men and women who worked for him representing the hundreds who had. Just a simple black stiff brim hat with a thin blue rope tied around the brim, worn by those who teach basic training, the MTis, the military training instructors. This is given by the enlisted force to only those commanders they feel have met their high standards of what they expect from their leaders. The blue rope signifies being the best of the best.

Joe and Barbara shared the sacrifices of life in the military...they endured 17 moves, lengthy separations and were true partners in making it work while raising a family. They returned to where they began and built a home on 10 acres with a beautiful view of Sacramento and Folsom Lake. Joe is survived by his soulmate Barbara, daughter Jackie (and Matt) of Flagstaff, Arizona, and son Jared (and Delia) of San Antonio, Texas. He is grandfather to Colten, Conner, Jaxon, and Sofia, Jared's sons and daughter. He has two sisters, Julie of Panama City, Florida and Beverly of Ft Worth, Texas.

He considered Panama City, Florida his home and visited many times through the years. He treasured his many lifelong friends there and so appreciated their support and concern in his long fight with cancer. He wore the uniform of his country for 40 years and was a true patriot in every sense of the word. Joe will be buried with full military honors at the historic Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. He considered it a privilege to be laid to rest alongside fellow veterans who made the sacrifices to keep our country free and preserve our way of life, and who answered the call to Duty, Honor, and Country.

MY LAST REMARKS by Joe Banks

First, let me say, I know this is a different way to do this, but why stick with convention when it's the last chance to express some thoughts about your life with those you know and care about. I had a wonderful life, and I have so many reasons to be thankful to so many who made it that way. So, here goes ... My parents were divorced when I was about five, but I don't think I ever quite realized what had happened. I went to live with my mother's parents on a small farm north of Ft Worth in a tiny little town called Haslet with only 200 residents. Haslet didn't have a traffic light or even a stop sign ... a very safe and wonderful place for a young boy. I occasionally saw each of my parents, but really never missed them, because my grandparents took over their role in my life. My grandmother, at four feet eleven, laid down the law of the land, and my grandfather at six foot six was a gentle giant with unending patience. I never really thanked them ... just one of my many regrets. Life is all about those things that change everything. One of those happened when I was eleven. My mother had remarried a sergeant in the Air Force, and I went to live with them in Florida. Living on an air force base, going to a junior high school with a thousand kids and so many fun things to do ... wow! My Texas school had all 12 grades in one building, and less than 100 students total. This was a whole new world, where no one had lived on a farm and everything was exciting. We lived only a block from the bay and a few miles from the most beautiful white sandy beaches and clear ocean water. My sister Julie was born ... so much younger that I didn't spend much time with her ... another of my regrets. She is very much like my stepfather, gentle and kind to everyone. She is very special to me now. In Texas, my father remarried and gave me another sweet sister, Beverly, who, through the years, I came to appreciate and keep in touch with. Now, back to my new home on Tyndall Air Force Base and Panama City, Florida. What a wonderful place to grow up ... so many wonderful experiences with friends who have lasted a lifetime. I attended a brand new high school and then a beautiful junior college right by the water. I loved the challenge of academics, along with being in clubs and student government. I was given so many opportunities that I never would have had in Texas. It also put me on a path I never thought I would take ... a military career. The Vietnam War was raging and relying heavily on the draft for replacements. To make sure I could finish my degree at Florida State University, I joined the two year Air Force ROTC commissioning program. And as they say, the rest is history. I would be on the Air Force payroll for the next 40 years, and I honestly loved it. In the scheme of things, Panama City, Florida was a sleepy, relatively small southern beach town. I really hadn't traveled much at age 22, since Florida State was only 100 miles away from home. So imagine what it was like to arrive at my first duty station in Sacramento, California ... a whole new world for me. Well, I got some surprises on the day I arrived. When I went to in-processing, I found out my navigator flight training class had been delayed a month, so I was told to settle in and wait. In addition, finance paid me almost $3000 in cash for my travel, uniform allowance and first month's pay. Another Wowl Are you kidding me ... yesterday I was a poor college kid and today I am flush with money and nothing to do but wait ... California here I come! Another surprise that same evening was one of those life changing events, although I didn't know it at the time. A friend from college ROTC took me out to a popular spot and I met a beautiful young woman with long blond hair and green eyes. She was an elementary school teacher, out on a date. Little did I know that I had just met the love of my life. It's a funny story of how we eventually started dating - too long to tell here, but once again my life was changed forever. I think she would agree, it was an exciting and romantic courtship. She took me to all the spectacular places I had only read about, and did we have fun! For me, it was magic. Can't say I did a lot of studying in those next 10 months, but I did earn my wings and asked her to marry me. She was reluctant ... not really thrilled with the idea of military life, so I promised her I would get out as soon as I could ... and I did, 30 years and 17 moves later.

The first years were hard, especially on Barbara ... living alone in North Carolina. I was flying all over the world, gone for months at a time, and then off to the war for a full year of combat. It was hard to get teaching positions in new states, but she did it, over and over again. During those years, I'm surprised she stayed with me. I offered only loneliness and separation from all she knew. I didn't really appreciate how tough it was for her ... another of my many regrets. Now, it is Christmas 1972, in eastern Thailand, my fourth month of flying combat missions into Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam in a flying battleship called the AC-130 Gunship. Put in for a few days of leave, and Barbara flew to Bangkok to visit me. We played tourist for 3 days, and then took the train for 12 hours up to my airbase on the Laotian border, where I had rented a room in town for her visit. Upon our arrival, I was told a Gunship had been shot down in Laos the night before, December 21st, It wasn't long until I realized it was MY crew! We had all filled in on other crews as needed when someone was on leave or sick. So, someone had taken my place that night. My crew had trained and flown together for months in Florida to get qualified in the Gunship. Hit by antiaircraft fire, the airplane exploded ... crew of 16 ... 14 dead ... only 2 gunners blown free and rescued. Barbara knew most of their family members. We had all socialized and went to the beach together. It was such a raw shock .. .1 remember going back to the room to tell Barbara, and both of us crying together. Every December 21st since then, we have paused to remember those families. Following the loss, all visitors were told to leave Thailand within a week. Barbara left for home, and the war raged on. Combat missions continued 24/7 from the 8 airbases in Thailand for the rest of my tour. In 1972 and 73, more American aircrews were killed in the Vietnam War than in all the other 10 years combined. We had been married almost 3 years, and I had been gone for most of it. I worked my follow on assignment hard and was selected for instructor duty back at Mather AFB. And once again, this changed everything. I honestly think this assignment saved us. We got to settle down and buy a house with a pool and be near Barbara's family and friends. Her extended family was huge, and it was fun to go to the many functions. We were really happy, and together, for really the first time. Pretty soon Barbara and I became parents. Jackie and Jared ... additions to my life that words to fully describe are hard to find. Each day with them was special ... that first step ... that first understandable word ... and so much more through the years. Man, do they grow fast, and have their own personalities. Who knew! And for the next 25 years and so many moves, I would find the house, but Barbara would turn it into our home. Sometimes our moves were only 10 months apart. Many of those moves, she had to handle alone. And, there were times she and the kids couldn't go with me ... for months and even years. She raised them pretty much on her own. She went to all the school functions, took them to their lessons and games and friend visits ... even Brownie and Cub Scout leader. Meanwhile, I was climbing the military ladder. Another of my regrets ... l should have done it much better as a husband and a dad. I'm very proud of my children. They served, in their own way, just as much as I did. Moving often, losing friends and making new ones, adjusting to new schools over and over. They are both very successful in their chosen careers. As they age and look back on our life together, I can only hope they will understand, and come to appreciate, that the obstacles they overcame helped to build their character and their drive to succeed. They have my respect, and they got it the old fashioned way ... they earned it. After all the ups and downs, Barbara and I made it ... as a team! We went the distance for 30 years. I literally have hundreds of Air Force folks to thank for a wonderful career. But, I hope, from my words here, that you fully realize I absolutely could not have done this without her. She was my sounding board and the receiver of my frustrations and my doubts on each rung of the ladder. And, she was the one who made me face my shortcomings and made me better for it. This was a partnership all the way. After retirement, we returned to California and built our dream home on acreage in the country with views of Folsom Lake and the Sacramento city lights ... spectacular. We have lived here longer than half of my Air Force career ... wow ... no big moving trucks in sight. Sounds pretty good, and it is, but as Gilda Radner said, "it's always something." And this is the last thing which once again changed everything ... the big "C" cancer. I retired from teaching high school Air Force junior ROTC at age 60, and we were looking forward to all of the trips we would take all over the world. One month later, I was diagnosed with lung cancer. To say we were shocked is not even dose. I was, and have been a gym rat for a very long time, and a non-smoker to boot. The news was devastating, and then a year after my treatment began, Barbara was diagnosed with breast cancer. Our entire world collapsed. No need for many details ... surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation for both of us, and then clinical trials for me. Months became 16 years of treatment for me. It has been a long road and hard on both of us. Love doesn't mean you never have to say you're sorry, but it does mean ... you have to tell your spouse how good they look with no hair!! This was a time to reflect on what really is important ... faith, family, friends and your love for each other. We didn't let this defeat us, and we tried to do exactly as an old friend with cancer suggested. She sent us a card with this inscription: "Living with cancer is not waiting for the storm to pass, but instead learning to dance in the rain." I'm very proud to say we did just that. As the saying goes, "It takes a long time to grow old friends," and I've been blessed with many. From high school classmates to my fellow vets, family members, neighbors, gym buddies, and church family, I have been moved by your constant and heartfelt encouragement. That worked as well as any cancer treatment. Friends gave me a lot of support, especially when things were very dark. My classmate, Alan Scott, kept me informed of the news from home. Bill McCrary made me his special prayer project for years, and I know God listened, because I lived far longer than expected. Jim Watt wrote me about his great family stories (which I feel sure were mostly true) to lift my spirits when I was so sick. Jerry Holland called me often to encourage me to hang in, no matter how bad the side effects were. Joe Shriber kept all my new friends in CA up to date on how I was doing, and he put a prayer yoke up in his home just for me. I am grateful to them and so many others for their friendship. As I said at the beginning, I have had a wonderful life. My hope for each one of you is that no matter what happens in your life, you can learn to dance in the rain. It makes terrible things so much better. Goodbye and may God bless each of you, as He has blessed me.

Joe

" ... the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith."

2 Timothy 4:6,7