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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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Posted on 02/03/2003 5:35:52 AM PST by SAMWolf
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are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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While the origins of U.S. Army Special Forces date back to the French and Indian War and the formation of Rogers’ Rangers, the modern concepts of unconventional warfare were largely developed in World War II with the formation of several specially trained units. One of the these early Special Forces units was the First Special Service Force, also known as the “Devil’s Brigade.”  After receiving his orders, Frederick began to organize a staff, obtain American and Canadian volunteers, and locate a place to train the new unit. To fill the Force’s ranks, Frederick and his staff recruited men with experience in working outdoors--lumberjacks, forest rangers, hunters, game wardens, prospectors, and others suitable for the Force’s mission. The Force was organized into three regiments, each made up of two battalions. It also had a small Air Force Detachment and a Service Battalion. In all, the Force would have approximately 2,300 officers and men. The First Special Service Force was activated on 9 July 1942 at Fort William Henry Harrison near Helena, Montana. The rugged, mountainous terrain and extreme winter conditions made Montana the ideal place for training. The Forcemen underwent rigorous training in a variety of weapons, hand-to-hand combat, demolition techniques, airborne assault, and attack maneuvers. In the fall, a group of Norwegian Army ski troops arrived to teach the Forcemen cross country skiing. In the fall of 1942, however, the Allies cancelled Project Plough. Although seemingly without a mission with the termination of Plough, Allied leaders decided to keep the well trained Force. In spring 1943, the Force underwent amphibious training at Norfolk, Virginia, for possible future amphibious operations.  Lieutenant Colonel Robert Tryon Frederick Original Commander Assembled, Organized, Trained, and Commanded First Special Services Force On 15 August 1943, the First Special Service Force participated in its first operation. The Forcemen landed on the rocky shores of Kiska in the Aleutian Islands, only to discover the Japanese had secretly abandoned the island. After returning to the U.S., the First Special Service Force was reassigned to the Mediterranean Theater and the fighting on the Italian peninsula. The Force arrived in Naples on 19 November 1943 and went into the line at Santa Maria with the 36th Infantry Division. In early December, the Force stormed and captured Monte La Difensa, a major hill mass blocking the Fifth Army’s advance which had been unsuccessfully assaulted by a number of other Allied units. In late December 1943 and early January 1944, the Force captured Monte Sammucro and Monet Mojo and held them against heavy odds. After a brief rest, the Force was sent into the Anzio Beachhead on 2 February and took up positions on the Allies right flank. Despite being forty percent understrength, the Force effectively held thirteen kilometers of front for ninety-nine continuous days and even penetrated the German main line of resistance on occasion. It was at Anzio that the Force earned its nickname, the “Devil’s Brigade,” for their fierce style of fighting in blackened faces. An entry from a diary found on the body of a German officer read, “The Black Devils are all around us every time we come into line, and we never hear them.” The Force seized key bridges south of Rome and entered the city with other Allied units on 4 June. In its last campaign, now under the command of COL Edwin A. Walker, the Force seized three islands off the south coast of France on 14 August to protect the Allied landings. However, the Force’s time was almost up. On 5 December 1944, the Force was disbanded. Many of the American Forcemen were sent to American airborne units as desperately needed replacements. Others served with the 474th Infantry (Separate), which saw action with the Third Army and later performed occupation duty in Norway.  In its relatively brief wartime service, the First Special Service Force suffered over 2,700 casualties. It was awarded five U.S. Army campaign streamers and another ten by Canada. The Force’s legacy lives on as the seven Special Forces groups currently in the Regular Army or Army National Guard all trace their lineage to the First Special Service Force.
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Morning aomagrat. Sounds like some things never change, When I was in the Guard, they built a new Armory in Woodstock, had a "state of the art" indoor rifle range but we couldn't use it because the EPA restrictions made it so expensive that there was no money in the budget for "lead decontamination and clean-up".
When they got to Italy they were given a mission that the entire Fifth Army couldn't seem to accomplish: take Mount Difensa. Difensa was occupied by the Germans with a bunch of 88s. It rose over an important road so taking this mountain meant that the allies could get their supplies through and continue the push. But Difensa had held them up for three weeks. Rather than do what everyone else had tried and go up the front of the mountain, Frederick decided they would simply climb the sheer cliff in back because the Germans would never expect it. Now I thought this scene in the movie was just added for color but then I saw this:
This is a Forceman loading up with supplies so that he can climb a rope straight up a sheer rock face 1000 feet high. So the plan was that the entire Brigade would load themselves up, climb the ropes in three hours, then kill every German in sight. I don't know about you, but if I just put that pack on I wouldn't be able to jump a foot let alone climb 1000 feet and then be expected to engage the enemy. And this was a climb that was only attempted by two people before; one died trying and the other had to be rescued. But the Force were different and thought nothing of it. Anyway, the Force got to the top lickety-split and did in three hours what Fifth had tried for three weeks: they took Difensa. A German captain was captured at the top of the mountain and said "You can't be here! It is impossible to come up those rocks!" Shut up Kraut, you don't know the 1SSF. Anyway, after that, everyone--especially the Germans--knew about the Black Devils and they were given all the toughest jobs. They never gave up an inch of ground. EVER!
Valin, thanks for the history. I'll have to finish reading it later.
"By far the most renowned unit of WWII to be highly skilled in the system during that early period, was the 1st Special Service Force, better known as “The Devil’s Brigade”. The first of its kind, this unique unit was made up of Canadian and US troops, and carried a reputation for being able to take impenetrable objectives when no one else could. With "Pat" O'Neil (another of Fairbairn's senior students) as it Unarmed Combat Instructor these legendary men became known as some of the most highly trained soldiers during WWII with their unit being the predecessor to the US Special Forces."
We can't thank you enough for your sacrifices, vets.
Sgt. Gregory Frampton, 37, of California
Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Gibbons, 31, of Maryland
Staff Sgt. Daniel Kisling, Jr., 31, of Neosho, Mo
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Mark O'Steen, 43, of Alabama
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