Helena, MT – 80 years ago, December 5, 1944, the First Special Service Force held its final formation and deactivation ceremony at Villeneuve-Loubet, France on the Loup River flats.
The First Special Service Force was a unique joint Canadian-American top-secret force constituted under COL Robert T. Frederick on July 9, 1942 at Fort William Henry Harrison west of Helena, Montana. The First Special Service Force was airborne-trained and highly skilled in mountain operations and amphibious assaults with tough, physical training concentrated on weapons proficiency and demolitions. When tested by the US Army prior to deployment, the First Special Service Force scored the highest in infantry proficiency of any unit in the Army.
On August 15, 1943, the First Special Service Force made their first amphibious landing on the island of Kiska in the Aleutian Islands. As part of Operation Cottage, serving with the US 7th Infantry Division and Canadian 6th Infantry Division, the First Special Service Force’s First and Third Regiments landed on the island under the cover of darkness while Second Regiment was in reserve, waiting to parachute onto the island when needed. It was discovered after the landing that the Japanese had left the island under the cover of darkness and fog three days earlier
The First Special Service Force was quickly redeployed to the Mediterranean Theater, arriving in Italy on November 19, 1943. The Force was immediately assigned the task of clearing the German soldiers off Monte la Defensa, along with several other mountain tops of the Winter Line. On the night of December 1, 1943, the First Special Service Force marched 10 miles in the snow and rain of the Italian winter, and under the cover of darkness, to the base of the northern cliffs of Monte la Defensa. The Force waited in silence throughout the day of December 2, close enough to hear the German soldiers talking; close enough to smell their food cooking. Under the cover of darkness on the night of December 2, 2nd Regiment of the First Special Service Force scaled the 300-foot cliffs on the north side of la Defense in fog, rain and snow. By daybreak on the morning of December 3, 300 Forcemen were on top of the mountain when the battle began. Within four hours the men of the First Special Service Force had pushed the German soldiers off la Defensa. For the next six weeks the First Special Force cleared the mountain tops of the Winter Line, fighting north Casino. The First Special Service Force was relieved on January 16, 1943 after 45 days of continuous combat. The Force’s combat echelon on December 3, 1943, the battle of la Defensa, was 1,800 men. On January 16, 1943, when the Force was relieved, fewer than 500 Forcemen came out of the mountains.
On February 2, 1944, the Force moved north and played a key role at Anzio, responsible for eight miles of the right flank with a total combat strength of only 1,200 soldiers. Significantly outnumbered by the Herman Goering Division, the FSSF held a division-sized sector along the Mussolini Canal. For 99 days, the FSSF conducted aggressive night patrols and raids by blackened faced Forceman, earning them the nickname “Black Devils” by the opposing Germans.
On the morning of May23, 1944 the Allies broke out of the Anzio Beachhead, driving toward Rome. The First Special Service Force drove northeast into the mountains surrounding Anzio. For the next two weeks the Force fought through the Lepini heights to Artena and Segni, after capturing Mt. Arrestino. After one week of fighting following the Anzio breakout, the First Special Service Force had lost over 40% of their combat strength. On June 4, 1944 at 6:00 am, a FSSF patrol lead by Captain Mark Radcliffe entered Rome, the first allied unit to enter the German occupied Eternal City. The mission of the First Special Service Force was to secure the Rome bridges crossing the Tiber River before they were destroyed by the retreating German Army. Two days later, June 6, 1944, the largest land, sea, and air invasion ever attempted began, D-Day.
The Mediterranean Campaign of the European Theater was part of the strategy and planning for the D-Day invasion. The First Special Service Force was an integral part of this strategy. Beginning in September, 1943, the Allies pushed the German and Italian military north, liberating the Italian oppressed and eventually liberating Rome. Part of this strategy was also to tie up as many German soldiers as possible in Italy to thin the German ranks available to defend the western shores of Normandy. By January, 1944 a reinforced German Army of 23 divisions, consisted of 215,000 troops engaged in the south and 265,000 troops in reserve in the north. As the Italian Campaign drug on in early 1944, more German troops were moved from France to Italy. Had these German troops been available to defend the D-Day Normandy landings, the outcome may have been much different.
On August 15, 1944, one year to the day after the Kiska landing, the Force made an amphibious landing on Southern France as part of Operation Dragoon and the liberation of Southern France. The Force seized two islands off the coast of Southern France to open the way for the Allied landing force, and then moved to the mainland, fighting northeast along the coast through the towns of Grasse, Plascassiere, and Menton. The Force was in continuous action for the next 15 weeks, engaged in bitter skirmishes to liberate the towns and peaks of Southern France.
On December 5, 1944, the First Special Service Force held its final formation and deactivation ceremony. At 2:00 pm the force gathered on the Loup River flats near Villeneuve-Loubet, France. First the chaplains read a prayer for the final dead who had fallen from Hyeres to Menton to join the honored dead of other campaigns. Then the United States, Canadian and FSSF flags moved forward, and the deactivation orders were read. Slowly the FSSF flag was wound to its staff and the casing slipped over it. Then the Canadians withdrew from ranks and formed their own battalion to march behind the Canadian flag, passing in review front of the U.S. contingent standing with empty ranks.
A quote from The First Special Service Force, A War History of the North Americans 1942-1944, by LTC Robert D Burhans “The Force, as history would know it, had finally dissolved to its national counterparts. An epitaph is not appropriate, for it did not die that afternoon at Villeneuve-Loubet. Its memory is still young in the hearts and minds of families who gave their sons to its ranks, and in the heart of every man who wore the red Spearhead. Rather it can be summed up in the words of Sholto Watt, of the Montreal Standard, who knew the Force best of any man outside it:
I can testify to their spectacular power and efficiency, their marvelous morale and their never-failing spirit of attack. They were exactly what one would expect from North America’s best-an inspiration to see and a terror to their enemy.
But the importance of the First Special Service Force in world history, and their influence on the future, are much greater than even their outstanding military merit would deserve. The significance of this Force is that it was the first joint force of its kind, drawn from two neighbor democracies, and that it was a brilliant success throughout. It is by no means fanciful to see in it the prototype of the world police of that world community which has for so long been the dream of men of goodwill.
Their legend is a feat of arms which will remain celebrated in military history which should be remembered even longer-an example of international brotherhood which deserves enduring honor.
In 251 days of combat the Force suffered 2,314 casualties – 134% of its combat strength. They captured 30,000 German prisoners, won five US campaign stars and eight Canadian battle honors. The Force never failed a mission.
The surviving veterans of the FSSF dedicated a monument to their fallen brothers in August 1947 in Helena’s Memorial Park. The Cenotaph east of the monument includes the names of 488 men who made the ultimate sacrifice in World War II.
Most gratifying to the Veterans of the FSSF is that its traditions and honors have not died but are carried forward, with its lineage embracing the outstanding active Special Forces units of two great democracies: The Canadian Special Operations Regiment and the Special Forces of the United States Army.
On February 3, 2015, the United States Congress presented the Congressional Gold Medal to the First Special Service Force, “In recognition of its superior service during World War II”. Forty-three original FSSF Veterans attended the ceremony at the United States Capitol, along with over 800 family members, friends, and members of Congress.
On August 21, 2015 veterans of the First Special Service Force presented their Congressional Gold Medal to Fort William Henry Harrison, where the Force trained 73 years earlier.
For further information, contact Bill Woon, 461-7485, or Ray Read, 235-0290.
