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From KPAX (Missoula Montana)
http://www.kpax.com/news/devil-s-brigade-will-receive-a-national-honor-next-week/
Devil's Brigade will receive a national honor next week
HELENA - Members of an elite World War II fighting unit that trained in Helena will receive a national honor next week.
The First Special Service Force, known as the Devil's Brigade, trained in Helena in 1942 and 1943. The unit, comprised of US and Canadian service members, fought with distinction in the mountains of Italy during the second world war.
The commando force will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in Washington, DC next Tuesday. The award comes as a result of four years of work by supporters of the Devil's Brigade, along with American Ambassador to China Max Baucus and Congressman Ryan Zinke.
"Helena opened their arms to these men in '42, '43. They consider this; the men that trained here consider Helena their home. They come back here as frequently as we can to have reunions,"Bill Woon of the First Special Service Force Association said.
[EDITORIAL COMMENT:- These people are the Founding Fathers of the Special Forces. {Salute} Any nickname given to you be the terrified enemy is one to be proud of and "The Devil's Brigade" has one. While I do believe that the Marines are "Devil Dogs" in heart, mind, and spirit - that nickname was given to them by American newspapers {which some may well consider to be "the enemy"}. (HISTORICAL NOTE #1:- At less than full strength of 1,900 - it was at approximately half strength by then - at Anzio, the First Special Service Force captured around 7,000 prisoners and inflicted around 12,000 casualties on the Germans.)
(HISTORICAL NOTE #2 - The First Special Service Force was composed almost equally of carefully selected, highly trained, mostly battle-hardened, volunteers from the Canadian Army and a rag tag collection of yardbirds, discipline cases, and screwups offloaded from American commands - which only goes to prove that if properly led and motivated anyone can be a "super soldier" - if they can meet the physical standards.)
http://www.kpax.com/news/devil-s-brigade-will-receive-a-national-honor-next-week/
Devil's Brigade will receive a national honor next week
HELENA - Members of an elite World War II fighting unit that trained in Helena will receive a national honor next week.
The First Special Service Force, known as the Devil's Brigade, trained in Helena in 1942 and 1943. The unit, comprised of US and Canadian service members, fought with distinction in the mountains of Italy during the second world war.
The commando force will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in Washington, DC next Tuesday. The award comes as a result of four years of work by supporters of the Devil's Brigade, along with American Ambassador to China Max Baucus and Congressman Ryan Zinke.
"Helena opened their arms to these men in '42, '43. They consider this; the men that trained here consider Helena their home. They come back here as frequently as we can to have reunions,"Bill Woon of the First Special Service Force Association said.
[EDITORIAL COMMENT:- These people are the Founding Fathers of the Special Forces. {Salute} Any nickname given to you be the terrified enemy is one to be proud of and "The Devil's Brigade" has one. While I do believe that the Marines are "Devil Dogs" in heart, mind, and spirit - that nickname was given to them by American newspapers {which some may well consider to be "the enemy"}. (HISTORICAL NOTE #1:- At less than full strength of 1,900 - it was at approximately half strength by then - at Anzio, the First Special Service Force captured around 7,000 prisoners and inflicted around 12,000 casualties on the Germans.)
(HISTORICAL NOTE #2 - The First Special Service Force was composed almost equally of carefully selected, highly trained, mostly battle-hardened, volunteers from the Canadian Army and a rag tag collection of yardbirds, discipline cases, and screwups offloaded from American commands - which only goes to prove that if properly led and motivated anyone can be a "super soldier" - if they can meet the physical standards.)
Posted in these groups: 
WWII World War Two
Special Forces
WWII World War Two Special Forces
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 2
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COL Ted Mc
LCDR (Join to see) - Commander; Absolutely.
If you take a look at the photos of the members of the 1SSF you are always surprised at how "normal" they look. The number of "body building buff" types is minimal.
I seriously doubt if (assuming that you could assemble them in sufficient numbers) two companies of ANY of today's Special Forces could hold two battalion's worth of front line against an enemy force in the Division+ range (not only hold it, but push the enemy forces back).
If you take a look at the photos of the members of the 1SSF you are always surprised at how "normal" they look. The number of "body building buff" types is minimal.
I seriously doubt if (assuming that you could assemble them in sufficient numbers) two companies of ANY of today's Special Forces could hold two battalion's worth of front line against an enemy force in the Division+ range (not only hold it, but push the enemy forces back).
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LCDR (Join to see)
I won't offer anything less than a Bravo Zulu to any of our modern day SPECOPs professionals Sir...but I do think these gentlemen of the past had some steel in their blood we've yet to replicate.
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Long, long overdue! That is great news, kudos to those that kept pushing to make it happen.
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