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U.S. Special Forces Commando: From OSS Agent in the Eastern Bloc to Airborne Soldier in Korea and Green Beret: The Cold War Service of Leif Bangsbøll
With the ending of the Second World War, Lief Bangsboll, after distinguished service with the O.S.S. behind enemy lines in Denmark, prepared himself for a life of peace and hopefully love with the young Canadian girl he had met while training at Camp X during the war. But the United States War Department and the Office of Strategic Services had other plans for the young soldier/agent. In September 1945, Lieutenant Bangsboll was secretly sent into Soviet-occupied Germany to assess and report upon Russian military activities in and around Berlin. In December 1945, a deadly incident occurred in which a KGB agent was killed, and Leif and his O.S.S. team were forced to escape back into the American sector of Germany.
With his O.S.S. identity compromised and himself now target of the KGB, Lieutenant Bangsboll was re-assigned to the regular U.S. Army and became a member of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. With the outbreak of the Korean War, Leif was part of the first airborne operation in which he and the 187th Airborne Regiment Combat Team parachuted into North Korea as part of the U.S./United Nations force confronting the North Korean invasion. During his year of combat in Korea, Captain Bangsboll, the platoon leader for the Headquarters Intelligence & Reconnaissance platoon, worked under Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Bank, also a former OSS agent. During that assignment Leif led numerous special operations missions behind enemy lines, including a mission to recover a large cache of American gold bullion which had been left behind when the U.S. 8th Army was overrun during a North Korean offensive. He also led a secret parachute mission to rescue American /United Nations’ prisoners of war held in North Korea and a daring assault on a North Korean base which earned him the Silver Star for ‘extraordinary courage in combat’.
Captain Bangsboll played a crucial role in the develop of the United States’ first Special Forces unit and was appointed as one of the initial Company Commander of a Green Beret/Special Forces unit. Then, as the Army Liaison Officer to the 302nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in Sembach, West Germany, he flew as an observer, reporting on Soviet troop movements over Warsaw Pact held territory and instructed American pilots the skills of escape and evasion. As a Company Commander with the 10th Special Forces Group in Ulm, West Germany, he stood his ground, facing Soviet and East German combat troops poised to invade Western Europe during the tense days during the U2 spy plane incident and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
With his O.S.S. identity compromised and himself now target of the KGB, Lieutenant Bangsboll was re-assigned to the regular U.S. Army and became a member of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. With the outbreak of the Korean War, Leif was part of the first airborne operation in which he and the 187th Airborne Regiment Combat Team parachuted into North Korea as part of the U.S./United Nations force confronting the North Korean invasion. During his year of combat in Korea, Captain Bangsboll, the platoon leader for the Headquarters Intelligence & Reconnaissance platoon, worked under Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Bank, also a former OSS agent. During that assignment Leif led numerous special operations missions behind enemy lines, including a mission to recover a large cache of American gold bullion which had been left behind when the U.S. 8th Army was overrun during a North Korean offensive. He also led a secret parachute mission to rescue American /United Nations’ prisoners of war held in North Korea and a daring assault on a North Korean base which earned him the Silver Star for ‘extraordinary courage in combat’.
Captain Bangsboll played a crucial role in the develop of the United States’ first Special Forces unit and was appointed as one of the initial Company Commander of a Green Beret/Special Forces unit. Then, as the Army Liaison Officer to the 302nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in Sembach, West Germany, he flew as an observer, reporting on Soviet troop movements over Warsaw Pact held territory and instructed American pilots the skills of escape and evasion. As a Company Commander with the 10th Special Forces Group in Ulm, West Germany, he stood his ground, facing Soviet and East German combat troops poised to invade Western Europe during the tense days during the U2 spy plane incident and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published March 30, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 16, 2026
I went in expecting a dry family history project. Instead I got a wild ride through some of the most secretive corners of the early Cold War.
Leif Bangsbøll's story spans OSS missions in occupied Denmark, a deadly run-in with the KGB in postwar Berlin, a combat jump into Korea, and a hand in founding the first U.S. Special Forces unit. It's a lot of ground to cover, and honestly any one chapter could've been its own book.
The Korea chapters are the standout for me; the gold recovery mission and the POW rescue read like a thriller, but they're grounded in real events, which makes them hit harder. Serving under Aaron Bank (one of the actual founders of Army Special Forces) also gives the book a nice tie-in to bigger military history, not just one man's story.
It does drag a bit in the middle. The reassignments between postings sometimes read more like a service record than a story, and I found myself wanting more scenes and less summary in those stretches. Makes sense though; the author (Bangsbøll's son) clearly had a ton of verified documentation to work with, and it shows.
Overall, a solid pick for Cold War history buffs and Special Forces readers. The U-2 and Cuban Missile Crisis section alone is worth it for the ground-level view of that tension.
Leif Bangsbøll's story spans OSS missions in occupied Denmark, a deadly run-in with the KGB in postwar Berlin, a combat jump into Korea, and a hand in founding the first U.S. Special Forces unit. It's a lot of ground to cover, and honestly any one chapter could've been its own book.
The Korea chapters are the standout for me; the gold recovery mission and the POW rescue read like a thriller, but they're grounded in real events, which makes them hit harder. Serving under Aaron Bank (one of the actual founders of Army Special Forces) also gives the book a nice tie-in to bigger military history, not just one man's story.
It does drag a bit in the middle. The reassignments between postings sometimes read more like a service record than a story, and I found myself wanting more scenes and less summary in those stretches. Makes sense though; the author (Bangsbøll's son) clearly had a ton of verified documentation to work with, and it shows.
Overall, a solid pick for Cold War history buffs and Special Forces readers. The U-2 and Cuban Missile Crisis section alone is worth it for the ground-level view of that tension.
Read
July 17, 2026This is the kind of book that makes you wonder how it isn't already a bestseller. Leif Bangsbøll's life reads like it was written for the screen except every bit of it actually happened.
From covert OSS missions in occupied Denmark, to a deadly standoff with Soviet agents in postwar Berlin, to a combat jump into Korea, to helping build America's first Special Forces unit from the ground up; this one man's career touches nearly every major thread of early Cold War history.
The Korea chapters are extraordinary. The mission to recover lost gold bullion and the operation to rescue POWs both read with genuine edge-of-your-seat tension, and knowing they're real makes them unforgettable. His service under Aaron Bank, a true founding figure of Army Special Forces, only adds to how significant this story is.
What impressed me most is the research behind it. This clearly wasn't pieced together from vague family memory; it's detailed, specific, and well-documented, which makes the danger and stakes feel completely real.
A must-read for anyone into Cold War history, military memoirs, or the origins of U.S. special operations.
From covert OSS missions in occupied Denmark, to a deadly standoff with Soviet agents in postwar Berlin, to a combat jump into Korea, to helping build America's first Special Forces unit from the ground up; this one man's career touches nearly every major thread of early Cold War history.
The Korea chapters are extraordinary. The mission to recover lost gold bullion and the operation to rescue POWs both read with genuine edge-of-your-seat tension, and knowing they're real makes them unforgettable. His service under Aaron Bank, a true founding figure of Army Special Forces, only adds to how significant this story is.
What impressed me most is the research behind it. This clearly wasn't pieced together from vague family memory; it's detailed, specific, and well-documented, which makes the danger and stakes feel completely real.
A must-read for anyone into Cold War history, military memoirs, or the origins of U.S. special operations.
July 16, 2026
One Man, Three Wars' Worth of Secrets
This book puts you right in the middle of Cold War history. Leif Bangsbøll wasn't just present for major moments; he was often the guy sent in when things got dangerous and quiet.
His story moves fast: undercover work in Denmark during WWII, a deadly close call with Soviets in Berlin, a combat jump into Korea, and later a hand in building America's first Special Forces unit. Rare to see one career touch so many fronts of the same conflict.
Korea is the highlight; the gold recovery mission and the POW rescue read with real tension, and it hits harder knowing it's true. His time serving under Aaron Bank, a known name in Special Forces history, adds extra weight.
Things slow down a bit between postings, but it's a minor dip in an otherwise strong read.
Recommended for Cold War and special ops history fans.
This book puts you right in the middle of Cold War history. Leif Bangsbøll wasn't just present for major moments; he was often the guy sent in when things got dangerous and quiet.
His story moves fast: undercover work in Denmark during WWII, a deadly close call with Soviets in Berlin, a combat jump into Korea, and later a hand in building America's first Special Forces unit. Rare to see one career touch so many fronts of the same conflict.
Korea is the highlight; the gold recovery mission and the POW rescue read with real tension, and it hits harder knowing it's true. His time serving under Aaron Bank, a known name in Special Forces history, adds extra weight.
Things slow down a bit between postings, but it's a minor dip in an otherwise strong read.
Recommended for Cold War and special ops history fans.
July 17, 2026
This book tells the real story of Leif Bangsbøll, and it's amazing from start to finish.
He did secret work in Denmark during World War II. Then he had a close call with Soviet spies in Berlin. After that, he jumped into combat in Korea. Later, he helped start the first U.S. Special Forces unit. One man did all of this; it's hard to believe it's true, but it is.
The Korea part is the best. There's a mission to find lost gold and another to save prisoners of war. Both are exciting to read, and knowing they really happened makes it even better. He also worked under Aaron Bank, a well-known name in Special Forces history.
The book is well-researched too. You can tell a lot of work went into getting the facts right.
This is a great read for anyone who likes true war stories or wants to learn about the start of U.S. Special Forces.
He did secret work in Denmark during World War II. Then he had a close call with Soviet spies in Berlin. After that, he jumped into combat in Korea. Later, he helped start the first U.S. Special Forces unit. One man did all of this; it's hard to believe it's true, but it is.
The Korea part is the best. There's a mission to find lost gold and another to save prisoners of war. Both are exciting to read, and knowing they really happened makes it even better. He also worked under Aaron Bank, a well-known name in Special Forces history.
The book is well-researched too. You can tell a lot of work went into getting the facts right.
This is a great read for anyone who likes true war stories or wants to learn about the start of U.S. Special Forces.
July 17, 2026
Wow. This book tells a true story, and it's hard to believe one man did all this.
Leif Bangsbøll did spy work in World War II. He escaped from Soviet spies in Berlin. He jumped into war in Korea. He helped start the first U.S. Special Forces team.
The Korea part is the best. He helped find lost gold and save prisoners. It's exciting, and it's all real.
This book is well-researched and easy to enjoy. Great pick if you like true war stories.
Leif Bangsbøll did spy work in World War II. He escaped from Soviet spies in Berlin. He jumped into war in Korea. He helped start the first U.S. Special Forces team.
The Korea part is the best. He helped find lost gold and save prisoners. It's exciting, and it's all real.
This book is well-researched and easy to enjoy. Great pick if you like true war stories.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews