Devil’s Brigade Honored
The 1st Special Service Force was formed and trained at Fort William Henry Harrison near Helena, Montana in 1942. Their nickname was The Devil’s Brigade and consisted of volunteers from the US and Canada and modern special forces of both countries trace their lineages to the unit despite the fact that it was disbanded in 1945. Their training focused on fighting in alpine terrain in Europe.
According to legend, they got their name from a journal that they found at the Anzio beach landing written by a Lieutenant in the Herman Goering Division. The entry read; “The Black Devils are all around us every time we come into the line. We never hear them come.”
Last year Congress honored the unit by awarding them the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest US civilian medal, and that ceremony happened this past week. We had a correspondent on the scene who took these pictures;
About 40 of the surviving members were able to make the trip to DC;
From the Associated Press;
By the time the war ended, the brigade had captured more than 30,000 prisoners, won five U.S. campaign stars and eight Canadian battle honors — and played a key role in the 1944 liberation of Rome from German forces.
“These men saved the free world,” said a tearful House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
Thanks to Green Thumb for our exclusive pictures.
Category: Real Soldiers
Very awesome!
Terrific! Thank you….
Great story! Those surviving members in the photos, cause a lump in throat.
The Devil Brigade’s first commander was a helluva man as well – MG Robert T. Frederick. He was assigned the duty of raising the 1st Special Service Force in 1942 while a LTC in the War Department. The choice proved to be as good a choice as that of Darby to lead the Rangers.
Frederick commanded 1st SSF as a LTC, COL, and BG. Under his command, 1st SSF fought in southern Italy (at Monte Difensa and other locations), at Anzio, and in the battle for Rome; 1st SSF troops are generally given credit for being the first Allied troops to enter Rome.
He also wasn’t exactly one to avoid personal danger. During the war Frederick received a total of eight Purple Hearts and two DSCs for heroism in action. (He was the only US soldier to receive 8 PHs during the war.) He also was awarded the Silver Star, 2 BSMs, two DSMs, and 2 LOMs.
Frederick damn near didn’t make it to Rome; he and two other US GOs (Clark, Keyes) were nearly shot by a sniper on Rome’s outskirts during a recon, and had to take cover. The famous picture of two US soldiers carrying the “ROMA” sign has a bullet hole in it from the incident. (Linked image is small, but when expanded the bullet hole is clearly visible in the bottom center of the sign.)
In mid-1944, Frederick was promoted to MG and left the 1st SSF to command the 1st Abn Task Force during Operation Dragoon. He later commanded the 45th Infantry Division, becoming (with Jim Gavin) the 2nd youngest division commander during World War II. Post-war, he commanded the US Coastal Artillery School, US Occupation Forces Austria, the 4th Inf Div, the 6th Inf Div, and JUSMAG Greece. He was retired due to disability in 1952, and passed away in 1970.
Truly an exceptional leader – for a truly exceptional outfit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_T._Frederick
http://www.theboot.it/rome_eternal.htm
Most excellent…its about time! Actually watched part of the (Terrible!) movie done about them. Totally entertaining in a bad old war movie way…
There’s a book on 1 SSF which is far better than the movie. The movie isn’t that bad for its time.
There will be a few SV’s emerge out of this, of course. Some old guy fixing the Slurpee machine at 7-11 claiming that his name is Rockwell Rockman.