Devil's Brigade members honored in US

[CaberTosser]

The First Special Service Force, a joint Canadian & American special forces group from WWII is being honored in Washington today with a Congressional Gold Medal.


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/devil-s-brigade-vet-maurice-white-joins-unit-to-get-congressional-honour-1.2939864

My uncle Leo Rudolph was a member of the FSSF, he was awarded the US Silver Star for his actions in combat. He's pictured at right in this photo taken outside the Helena, Montana training barracks:

http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy23/CaberTosser/UncleLeophotofoundonFSSFwebpage_zpsf99b55f9.jpg (http://s774.photobucket.com/user/CaberTosser/media/UncleLeophotofoundonFSSFwebpage_zpsf99b55f9.jpg.ht ml)

[Selkirk]

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The question begs to be asked ... Why did they wait 70 years, before doing this?

Mac

[TippyCanoe]

That is awesome. Thanks for sharing this. You must be proud.

[airbornedeerhunter]

They used to leave these pamphlets behind when they would kill krauts, as fear propaganda

"The worst is yet to come"

For years 3 PPCLI Para Company would go down to Fort Lewis every December to celebrate "Menton Days" with the Americans, to commemorate the disbanding of the FSSF in France in December 1944.

It was a week of jumping, wings exchange, shooting, slagging and a big drunk at the end. The last time I was down there we had a massive party the last night, the food consisted of meat off the bone and the only dinnerware was your canteen cup and the only cutlery was your favourite knife. Every table had a couple bottles of Jack Daniels and couple bottles of Canadian Club.

By the end of the night everyone was trashed and we were wearing each others uniforms.

The lineage has passed to CSOR now.

Those FSSF guys in WW2 were harder than a coffin nail.

[CaberTosser]

.
The question begs to be asked ... Why did they wait 70 years, before doing this?

Mac

Who knows? Somewhat surprisingly this unit commendation idea was floated a few years ago in the US by a Democrat. Many of the soldiers received their individual commendations in a much more reasonable time period. Uncle Leo passed away over a decade ago.

[32-40win]

Apparently one of the fellas that was supposed to go there died on the day before he was supposed to go to that ceremony. Got pneumonia a couple of wks ago. Al Wilson , from Hamilton.

[rugatika]

Cool. I vaguely remember seeing the movie many years ago.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062886/

[Selkirk]

Cool. I vaguely remember seeing the movie many years ago.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062886/

The full movie (in HD) is available on YouTube. But remember, it's of 1960's Hollywood craftsmanship :rolleye2:

Enjoy ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbU9JqkhxAk


:cheers:

Mac

[airbornedeerhunter]

The full movie (in HD) is available on YouTube. But remember, it's of 1960's Hollywood craftsmanship :rolleye2:

Enjoy ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbU9JqkhxAk


:cheers:

Mac

Also grossly historically inaccurate!

[Selkirk]

Also grossly historically inaccurate!

Amen to that ^ !

Mac

[edmhunter]

That is awesome, great movie too! For those how have not watched it, you should TWO THUMBS WAY UP!

[HalfBreed]

Also grossly historically inaccurate!

Yep, I've never wore underwear under my kilt.

(Thinking of the scene where Richard Dawson jumps over the bar during the brawl with the locals)

[CaberTosser]

Uncle Leo's obituary. I found an amusing juxtaposition in there where it noted that a decorated, butt kicking commando also liked making fur teddy bears for kids :D. He's been gone longer than I was recollecting.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=122097705

[Selkirk]

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http://i.cbc.ca/1.2943088.1422977835!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/cooper.jpg

Bernard Cooper, of Calgary, Alberta


The Calgary Herald did up a good article and vid today ... http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/calgary-man-reflects-on-service-in-devils-brigade-ahead-of-congressional-honour

Mac

[Dale S]

My grandfather Edward Ellerman was a member of the Devils Brigade. The day the movie opening in Edmonton (1968). One of the newspapers did a big story about the Devils Brigade. There was a picture on the front cover of the news paper of my grandfather and all the vets. that attended the movie. A very proud moment for our family. I have watched that movie many times.

[CheeseBurger]

While it is awfully late for the FSSF, better late than never! Read a few books on them years ago. :)

[Bellero]

Sgt Ralph Allely
1st Canadian Parachute Battalion
2nd Canadian Parachute Battalion
1st Special Service Force (Devil's Brigade)

One of the first 79 Canadian soldiers to be qualified jump course at Fort Benning in 1942.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y81/Made_In_Canada_27/DSC02901.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y81/Made_In_Canada_27/DSC02904.jpg[/QUOTE]

[CaberTosser]

Sgt Ralph Allely
1st Canadian Parachute Battalion
2nd Canadian Parachute Battalion
1st Special Service Force (Devil's Brigade)

One of the first 79 Canadian soldiers to be qualified jump course at Fort Benning in 1942.


That's Awesome Bellero, perhaps our relatives had rubbed elbows back then?

[Coulee]

Perhaps some of our soldiers who fought in Afghanistan and did great things despite being in great danger could be recognized in 70 years too.

[HalfBreed]

Perhaps some of our soldiers who fought in Afghanistan and did great things despite being in great danger could be recognized in 70 years too.

Nope, small private ceremonies take care of that.

Lest We Forget

["No Choke"Lord Walsingham]

Thank You for sharing this story here with us!

I very much appreciate learning of the FSSF being awarded such a finely deserved accolade. Thanks too, to all of you have shared your pictures and stories in this thread.

It has made my day!

[fordtruckin]

.
The question begs to be asked ... Why did they wait 70 years, before doing this?

Mac

Not sure if it would apply in this situation but my Grandfather was a Army Medic in Okinawa. 50 some years after his return from the Pacific he was finally awarded his Purple Heart, Bronze Star and other awards. It took so long because the National Archives that housed millions of Army and Air Force records burnt down in 1973.


http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/fire-1973.html

Glad they are finally receiving recognition for their service!!

[Bergerboy]

Very cool look back in history. Much appreciated.

[JimPS]

The First Special Service Force, a joint Canadian & American special forces group from WWII is being honored in Washington today with a Congressional Gold Medal.


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/devil-s-brigade-vet-maurice-white-joins-unit-to-get-congressional-honour-1.2939864

My uncle Leo Rudolph was a member of the FSSF, he was awarded the US Silver Star for his actions in combat. He's pictured at right in this photo taken outside the Helena, Montana training barracks:

http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy23/CaberTosser/UncleLeophotofoundonFSSFwebpage_zpsf99b55f9.jpg (http://s774.photobucket.com/user/CaberTosser/media/UncleLeophotofoundonFSSFwebpage_zpsf99b55f9.jpg.ht ml)

That's very cool that your uncle Leo served in this unit.

Make sure you try to document his story and the history for future generations of your family.

That will be harder than you think.
Unlike today's war heroes, most of the men from his generation rarely talked about their wartime experiences and fewer ever bragged about them.

It's too bad the movie was so poorly made and historically inaccurate.
Hopefully there will be a remake.

[CaberTosser]

That's very cool that your uncle Leo served in this unit.

Make sure you try to document his story and the history for future generations of your family.

That will be harder than you think.
Unlike today's war heroes, most of the men from his generation rarely talked about their wartime experiences and fewer ever bragged about them.

It's too bad the movie was so poorly made and historically inaccurate.
Hopefully there will be a remake.

My Grandpa (Leo's brother) and other Uncle also served in WWII, though in units that didn't get quite the attention that the FSSF garnered. I'm no less proud of them, its just there wasn't a recent mainstream news tidbit relating to them to start a thread on. My Dad has my Grandpas (WWII) & Great Grandpa's (WWI) ribbons & medals, I would imagine that one of my cousins would have Leo's commendations. That photo I posted was actually one I had found online on a website dedicated to the FSSF, and it was just scrolling by in a photo loop when I recognized him. I copied it forwarded it to one of Leo's daughters and she'd never seen it before so was happy to see it. Going to the same website today I see they have updated and reformatted the site, so that photo is no longer being looped and I'd not have found it if I had not already.

[Selkirk]

Perhaps some of our soldiers who fought in Afghanistan and did great things despite being in great danger could be recognized in 70 years too.

Let's hope it's ten times less than that ^

Mac

[JimPS]

My Grandpa (Leo's brother) and other Uncle also served in WWII, though in units that didn't get quite the attention that the FSSF garnered. I'm no less proud of them, its just there wasn't a recent mainstream news tidbit relating to them to start a thread on. My Dad has my Grandpas (WWII) & Great Grandpa's (WWI) ribbons & medals, I would imagine that one of my cousins would have Leo's commendations. That photo I posted was actually one I had found online on a website dedicated to the FSSF, and it was just scrolling by in a photo loop when I recognized him. I copied it forwarded it to one of Leo's daughters and she'd never seen it before so was happy to see it. Going to the same website today I see they have updated and reformatted the site, so that photo is no longer being looped and I'd not have found it if I had not already.

Good historical detective work - you really lucked out on finding the photo - much to the appreciation of Leo's daughter.

Don't assume your cousin has or even appreciates and values Leo's artifacts.

Get onto it before it's too late. There's not many of these men and women still alive to even get first hand stories from.

[Iskra]

The full movie (in HD) is available on YouTube. But remember, it's of 1960's Hollywood craftsmanship :rolleye2:

Enjoy ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbU9JqkhxAk


:cheers:

Mac

Thanks for the link, no movie is historically or book correct. This one is political incorrect. iI says Germans not Nazis.

[Thinlizzy]

So proud of our Canadian soldiers back then and now!

[CaberTosser]

Bumping this thread with Remembrance Day just around the corner. I had to re-host my uncles photo as photobucket messed things up. Uncle Leo is on the right, photo taken at the FSSF training facility in Helena, MT.



http://i.imgur.com/mSS8tO8.jpg (https://imgur.com/mSS8tO8)

[58thecat]

.
The question begs to be asked ... Why did they wait 70 years, before doing this?

Mac

Because it takes time to dig up all the sacrifices made and due to the nature of the many, many, many and still more bing made it will take time but always appreciated not only on the one day but everyday.

[stein]

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http://i.cbc.ca/1.2943088.1422977835!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/cooper.jpg

Bernard Cooper, of Calgary, Alberta


The Calgary Herald did up a good article and vid today ... http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/calgary-man-reflects-on-service-in-devils-brigade-ahead-of-congressional-honour

Mac

Bern was my great uncle, it was truly inspiring to have know him. Here is a few more articles for those interested and his obituary, RIP.

https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/what-its-like-to-be-in-a-wartime-firefight

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/devil-s-brigade-vet-bernard-cooper-watches-from-calgary-as-comrades-accept-congressional-medal-1.2943050

https://www.mhfh.com/cooper-bernard-reginald/

Besides surviving WWII and him and his wife building their home in Marda Loop with their bare hands, my grandma tells the story of their family growing up in Vermillion, AB, during the thirties, when they ran out of food and survived a winter only on bags of onions which their neighbors graciously donated to the family. Really puts things into perspective.

Lest we forget