DENVER — During World War II, many eligible men signed right up to serve their country.
But for women, opportunities to serve were far more limited.
When the military wanted to form a specialized ski unit that would later become the 10th Mountain Division, Deborah Bankart – one of the country's first female ski instructors and the first female ski school director - jumped right in to help.
“Deborah was born in 1918 in Massachusetts. And she was an avid outdoorsperson. She loved to ski, she was a really accomplished equestrian. And what was really amazing was she was one of the first female ski instructors in the United States,” said Dr. Anna Weissman, Associate Curator of Domestic Life at History Colorado.
As the military geared up to face the Axis Powers, the military quickly expanded the number of soldiers ready to serve. Specialized mountain troops would be critical to their mission to retake Europe, Weissman said.
“The military was trying to build up the troops and particularly, specialized troops. So Deborah was part of this national campaign to recruit mountaineers and skiers for this specialized military unit,” Weissman said.
Bankart would work with legendary filmmaker John Jay, together making recruiting films showing skiers and different aspects of Camp Hale which would eventually become the home of the 10th Mountain Division.
“She actually lost a friend on the Aleutian Islands of Kiska when they were deployed there. And that was a very big turning point for her. And she says you know what? I need to join up in the way that women could in that time, so she joined the Red Cross,” Weissman said. “After Kiska, the 10th Mountain Division is deployed to Italy and the Red Cross joins them there. And 10 weeks later, after Deborah is done with her training, she joins them as well.”
Opportunities for women to serve during World War II were limited. Weissman said she believed Bankart would have skied with the men, but serving in the Red Cross in Italy was one way she could stay connected to the war effort.
“What’s pretty surprising is they were expected to keep up these traditional feminine roles,” Weissman said. “They were expected to wear lipstick, paint their nails, wear perfume. And again, they are on the front lines.”
By the time the 10th Mountain Division reached Italy, their help would be needed immensely.
“We were at a very critical place in the Apennine Mountains in Italy. The Germans, the Nazis were really dug in defensively. And we had to find a way to break through and there were many troops that tried. And it wasn’t until the 10th Mountain showed up, took Riva Ridge, took Mount Belvedere, that they were able to punch through that defense line,” Weissman said. “And she [Bankart] said, the 10th Mountain Division helped win the war. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be here.”
Gallery: The life of Deborah Bankart
Soon after the war, some headed back home to the United States. Bankart stayed on in Europe for a while, Weissman said. She developed a friendship, then a courtship with Captain Roger Eddy. The pair later married.
“Deborah was, she continued to be very outdoorsy, she loved skiing. And unfortunately, there was a horseback riding accident,” Weissman said. “She was injured so severely that she lost the use of her legs and had to be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. But that didn’t stop her, she still had such an incredible zest for life. Very positive and just an incredible woman who really paved the way for women in male-dominated industries and organizations.”
Bankart passed away in 2004.
She received multiple military commendations for her service during World War II. In 2021, Bankart was inducted into the 10th Mountain Hall of Fame.
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