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Passing of Ltc Alfred Bancroft

American Legion Cherry Hill NJ Post 372 Posted on by

It is with heavy hearts we report the passing of our dear friend USMC veteran Ltc Alfred Bancroft, who was also a prior member of American Legion Post 372.

SERVICES as Follows; Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation with Colonel Bancroft's family on Wednesday April 3, 2024 from 3:30PM to 5:30PM at the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, 252 E Evesham Rd., Cherry Hill NJ 08003. Memorial service 6:00PM at the church. Interment will take place privately at a later date in the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Wrightstown NJ. Arrangements under the direction of the COSTANTINO-PRIMO FUNERAL HOME, BERLIN NJ.

The Colonel was born an identical twin in New Haven, Connecticut on August 31, 1939. He and his twin brother Raymond lived at the Camden Home for Children and were adopted at the ages of 10 by Mr. Raymond Bancroft of Collingswood, NJ. March 14, 1958 Alfred and Raymond enlisted in the USMC. The Colonel went on to complete three tours in Vietnam and was among the first Marines who landed in 1965. While in Viet Nam, he served in Da Nang, Chu Lai, and Hoi An. He also served near the beach, where he worked unloading weaponry from ships and volunteering for patrols. In 1967, he helped establish an orphanage for Vietnamese children. Years later, he returned to Vietnam, where he had once fought and had met up with the Nun he had met when establishing the orphanage. He was so overcome with joy when he had seen her and the school after all of those years.Between his second and third tours of Vietnam; he married Nancy Christine Yensel, whom he was married to for over 55 years. On November 1, 1991 The Colonel retired from the USMC with 33 years of active service. Throughout his military career he was a highly decorated and accomplished Marine. He has received numerous awards and letters of appreciation for all that he has done. He continued to serve the military community by working as an officer with the Camden County Office of Veterans Affairs. In 2022 he retired from the Camden County Office of Veterans Affairs.He was a very humble, loving, kind, compassionate, and selfless man who loved all he came into contact with. In an interview he was quoted as saying, “I’ve had the greatest life anybody could expect. I’ve had the perfect life and I’d do it all over again.” Click here to read full obit

To know him was to love him. With such a caring and kind heart, he gave his all to everyone - especially our military and veterans.

It gives some comfort that we were able to show Al just how much we cared and appreciated him prior to his passing. Just last year we honored him at the  Annual Veterans Appreciation Dinner at the American Legion Cherry Hill NJ, hosted by the Cherry Hill PBA  – and WOW – what an emotionally packed evening it was.Our beloved Ltc Al Bancroft was honored for his service to our country (USMC 30+ yrs) and his recent retirement from the Camden County Veterans Affairs Office (20+ yrs) and he presented a local Vietnam Veteran, Thomas Flynn, with his fathers WWII Dog tag that was found in England.

We were also able to honor his service in 2010 at the American Legion with presentations from numerous veterans organizations including the American Legion Post 372, Legion Riders, Warriors Watch, Nam Knights, VVA, MCL, County Officials, Cherry Hill Town Council, Yellow Ribbon Club, POW/MIA Awareness COmmittee, Waterford Township Memorial, Military SUpport Group, Gold Star Mothers, CHPD and others. Al was involved in everything for our veterans and made such an impact on us all. He will be sorely missed. (see videos below)

Click here to view photos of November 2022 event honoring Ltc Al Bancroft and return of military dog tag to Thomas FLynn. To read full story of the military dog tag and more photos, click here

Click here to view photos from various sources of Al Bancroft throughout the years at different events, etc.

Below are videos from the Welcome Home & Thank You Presentations to Al Bancroft in 2010 at the American Legion Post 372 in Cherry Hill, NJ.

Lt Colonel Alfred Bancroft Bio
USMC – Served from 1958 – 1991 (33 years of service to our country)
Camden County Office of Veterans Affairs (20+ years)
 
Alfred Bancroft was born in New Jersey in 1939 and adopted from the Camden Home for Children at age 10. At this time, he met a Marine who inspired him to become one himself. Bancroft and his twin brother Art joined the Marines in 1958, attending recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina. He then went to Camp LeJeune’s Infantry Training Regiment in North Carolina, before becoming a heavy equipment specialist.
Bancroft completed three tours in Vietnam and was among the first Marines who landed in 1965. While in Vietnam, he served in Da Nang, Chu Lai and Hoi An. Bancroft always served near the beach, where he worked unloading weaponry from ships and volunteering for patrols. In 1967, he helped establish an orphanage for Vietnamese children and credits the Camp Fire Girls from Portland, Oregon, with providing supplies.
Upon returning stateside, he was a staff sergeant instructor at a Marine Corps engineering school. In 1973, he went to South Bend, Indiana, for inspector instructor duty, and then moved to Quantico, Virginia, where he promoted to limited duty officer lieutenant. Bancroft continued on to California, where he became a first lieutenant with the 11th Marine Regiment. He became a captain in 1977, before leaving California to return to the East Coast. Bancroft became a major while working at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina. Before retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1991, he received a Legion of Merit for his work putting 30,000 Reserve Marines on a base during Operation Desert Storm.
After retiring from the Marines, Bancroft returned to Camden, New Jersey. He continued to serve the military community, working as an officer with the Camden County Office of Veterans Affairs up until his retirement Jan 1 2022.

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