Posted on 01/18/2015 11:37:40 AM PST by kristinn
The surviving members of a legendary force of Canadian and U.S. soldiers will be honoured in Washington for their courage and bravery -- and the rough-and-tough tactics that helped win the Second World War.
Known as the Devil's Brigade, the elite fighting force was made up of roughly 1,800 Canadians and Americans, many of them lumberjacks, miners and rural tough guys with survival skills. They were tasked with getting behind enemy lines and waging unconventional warfare against the enemy.
The surviving veterans will be presented with a Congressional Gold Medal on Feb. 2, by leaders of the U.S. House and Senate.
"It was the only unit formed in WWII with troops from the U.S. and Canada -- building on the special bond between the two countries," according to a statement issued by House Speaker John Boehner's office. "The unit was instrumental in targeting military and industrial installations."
Boehner will take part in the ceremony, along with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.
The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian honour the United States Congress can bestow. Fewer than 150 of the medals have been awarded since the first was given to George Washington.
A single medal will be struck and awarded to the unit as a whole. Approximately 230 members of the unit are still alive.
(Excerpt) Read more at ctvnews.ca ...
Canada Ping - Ping du Canada
God Bless them, and by the one of my favorite movies!
Fun movie, about a serious subject. Let’s beat up some lumberjacks! And each other!
Fight Scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hpf1YO26MBM
Lots of stars in this one.
ABOUT DAMN TIME!
Full movie in English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbU9JqkhxAk
I love that movie...truly a great film!
Boehner will take part in the ceremony, along with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.
***
Oh, dear. These brave men gave so much for their respective countries, and now they have to be subjected to that group of blowhards! At least, they won’t have to see ObaMao.
YouTube says I can’t watch, but I did get to see this clip which is apparently from the film. I luvs me some bagpipes — and pipers in their kilts.
If you have comcast, it is available online
Canada Ping!
Really. I can't wait to hear what the hold up was. /s
And this is where you can get the same knifes they used:
http://www.macdonaldarms.com/armoury/FairbairnSykes.php
They are well worth collecting. The McDonald Armories Version
is a best fit replica, but the originals are worth their weight in gold.
You might think in getting a replica knife scabbard from MacDonald’s if you do not already have one.
Originally my FS commando knife had a leather scabbard but at some point over the years it was lost ... thanks for the sdvice.
The 1st Special Service Force used several knives and the Fairbairn-Sykes stiletto was one of them. However, the “official†knife of the Devil’s Brigade was the V-42 Stiletto made by Case Knife Co. The V-42 was based on the Fairbairn-Sykes but had some identifying features of its own. The pommel had a pointed “skull crusherâ€; grips were made of stacked leather disks; and the ricasso of the blade bore a dished serrated depression resembling a thumb print to assure a correct grip, The blade was double edged and hollow ground. The scabbard was leather with metal reinforcing rivets. A V-42 could penetrate a G.I. issue helmet and liner with one, determined thrust.
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