On Friday, May 26, 1996, Sam Banks was inducted into the Fremont High School Hall of Fame. Although Sam received many honors and awards in his career. He married 1952 Fremont graduate Carolle Lyman on June 20, 1954. Sam and Carolle were married 44 yeas and raised a family of four children. Sam Banks was a graduate of Fremont High in the Celestians Class of Winter 1951. He was inducted into the U. S. Army during the Korean War, as were many Fremont graduates during that year. Sam advanced from recruit to Lt. Colonel during his 20 year service in the military and fulfilled many positions of great responsibility.

Starting in the artillery, he soon became an army aviator and flew 1000 combat missions during the Vietnam War. As a helicopter pilot, he was heavily involved in many battles, flying more than 1200 hours of combat time and over 18,000 hours of recorded flight time!. As one citation states, "During heated battle under adverse conditions, he maintained a calm and decisive attitude and always exercised sound judgment, never hesitating to meet great danger with great fortitude and acts of heroism."

During his army career, he received eleven decorations for heroism and gallantry in action in Vietnam. Sam flew a thousand combat missions as a helicopter pilot. His awards include the Legion of Merit, awarded by direction of the President in 1968; Silver Star for gallantry in action; Distinguished Flying Cross; for heroism; Soldier's Medal (the army‘s highest decoration for non-combat heroism); Bronze Star for Valor; Air Medal with 25 oak leaf clusters (four for valor); Republic of Korea Award for saving the life of a drowning man while evacuating a Korean family of four during a flood; Governor's Trophy for Humane Action in Korea; Vietnam Cross for Gallantry, with palms; Vietnam Silver Star.

Sam was aircraft commander for the flying command post of Brigadier General James Hollingsworth.