05 Dec 1944 is a somewhat sad day in SOF history. Known as Menton Day, December 5th marks the last formation of the 1st Special Service Force.
The 1st Special Service Force (also called The Devil’s Brigade, The Black Devils, The Black Devils’ Brigade, and Freddie’s Freighters), was a combined American-Canadian commando unit in World War II.
Organized and trained at Fort William Henry Harrison near Helena, Montana in 1942, the Forcemen fought in the Aleutian Islands, Italy, and southern France before being disbanded on this day in December 1944.
One of the Force’s most harrowing missions was the attack on Monte La Difensa in Italy during December, 1943, which required the men to climb the mountain and surprise the German defenders.
This painting by Peter Dennis comes from tge Osprey book, “RAID 48: Storming Monte La Difensa,” written by Bret Werner.
Despite being from two different countries, the members of the Force became a United team. The story goes that the FSSF soldiers assembled at 1400 hours for a somber farewell. The order announcing the Canadian’s departure was read, followed by remarks from the commander, Col. Edwin A. Walker, the roll of the fallen, prayers, and a playing of taps. After the FSSF colors were sheathed, the order was given: “All Canadians fall out!” The 620 Canadian soldiers paraded, and received a salute from the Americans.
A Canadian sergeant from the 2nd Regiment remarked years later, that “It was the saddest day of my life, I think…Canadians were falling out that I thought were Americans and Americans were standing still who I thought were Canadians…There was no nationality in that bloody unit.”
Thanks to Mud at SFA Chapter LX for some of the narrative.
Good video of what the terrain was like and retrospective from Canadian member of 1st SSF.
“Amongst the Eagles – The Battle of Monte La Difensa”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKLG4F4eqkA
thank you! god remember these men and the legacy they have left us.
Awesome, thank you for the link ryoushin.
As always, Thank you Eric for this nugget of knowledge regarding our brothers in arms
I am at Ft. Harrison as I read this. Their memory is alive and well here at the base.
The book detailing the exploits of the 1st FSSF called “A Perfect Hell” by John Nader reads like a mini series. I’m amazed its not an HBO miniseries like Band of Brothers.
Cansof csor unit call the FSSF part of their lineage, and they wear the patch today
Why did they disband in December 1944? Seems to me there was some unfinished business in Belgium at the time… With a bit of a journey to go after that?
There was a shortage of personnel so they sent the Canadians to their own units (most of them became replacements for the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion). Some American members were sent to airborne divisions as replacements, others to Ranger Battalions, and still others formed the 474th Infantry Regiment, which served with the Third United States Army and performed occupation duty in Norway.
You have to remember that only the unit members present during the stand up were jump qualified. Replacements went straight to the FSSF.