 |
|
Navigation |
| |
| |
 Home |
|
| |
 General |
| |
| |
| Community |
| |
| |
| Content |
| |
| |
| Information |
| |
| |
| Tools |
| |
| |
| Resources |
| |
|
| |
| Admin Area |
| |
|
|
|
Keep Our Servers Running |
| HELP KEEP OUR SERVERS ONLINE! |  | | Donat-o-Meter Stats | | September´s Goal: | $49.00 | | Due Date: | Sep 30 | | Gross Amount: | $0.00 | | Net Balance: | $0.00 | | Left to go: | $49.00 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
Memorial Highway
| Reads: 67 |
In September of 1999, Alberta Highway 4 and Interstate 15 in Montana, being the main highway between the cities of Lethbridge, Alberta Canada and Helena, Montana in the United States, was renamed the "First Special Service Force Memorial Highway". This highway was chosen because it was the route taken in 1942 by the Canadian volunteers to join their American counterparts for training at Fort Harrison.
The force is also memorialised in a commemorative plaque outside the Protestant Cemetery, Rome, next to the Pyramid of Cestius and another on the Embassy of the United States in Rome, facing Via Vittorio Veneto.
|
Posted by kapitanreis on Sunday, August 16 @ 09:59:51 MST
(comments? | Score: 0)
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Winter Line
| Reads: 43 |
The Winter Line was a series of German military fortifications in Italy, constructed during World War II by Organisation Todt. The main line of fortification, called the Gustav Line, ran across Italy from just north of where the Garigliano River flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west, through the Apennine Mountains to the mouth of the Sangro River on the Adriatic coast in the east. The centre of the line, where it crossed the main route north to Rome (Highway 6) which followed the Liri valley, was anchored around the mountains behind the town of Cassino including Monte Cassino, which had an old abbey sitting atop it and which dominated the entrance to the Liri valley, and Monte Cairo which gave the defenders clear observation of any potential attackers. On the western side of the Apennines there were two subsidiary lines: the Bernhardt Line in front of the main Gustav positions and the Hitler Line some 5 miles to the rear. The Winter line was fortified with gun pits, concrete bunkers, turreted machine-gun emplacements, barbed-wire and minefields. It was the strongest of the German defensive lines south of Rome. About 15 German divisions were employed in the defence. It took the Allies from mid-November 1943 to late May 1944 to fight through all the various elements of the Winter Line.
Various published sources use differing definitions of the Winter Line and its components. The above represents a best-efforts consensus.
|
Posted by kapitanreis on Sunday, August 16 @ 09:59:16 MST
(comments? | Score: 0)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distinguished Service Cross
| Reads: 56 |
Orr, Ross W.
Staff Sergeant, 5th Company, Second Regiment, Special Service Force, Canadian Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Villeneuve-Loubet, France on 26 August 1944. When the only route for urgently needed supplies was cut off by three enemy machine guns emplaced along the road, Staff Sergeant Orr, without orders, elected to remove this obstacle. After selecting three men to provide covering fire, he approached alone to within seventy-five yards of the first gun. Armed with a sub-machine gun, he jumped into the middle of the road and demanded surrender. The enemy gunner immediately open fire on him, but Staff Sergeant Orr stood his ground and seriously wounded both of the crew with effective fire. Under continued assault by this four man team, the two other machine gun crews finally surrendered and the road was opened to desperately needed supplies. Soon afterward the Fifth Company occupied a castle on a hilltop to protect this supply route and Sergeant Orr immediately organized the area against counter-attack. The enemy, two hundred strong, strove continuously and fiercely to dislodge his group from this stronghold. In the face of death-defying circumstances, Sergeant Orr with is submachine gun put an enemy machine gun which was covering an approaching enemy demolition party of action. The demolition party was dispersed were severe losses by rifle fire and hand grenades effective used under Sergeant Orr's direction. In another similar counter-attack, Sergeant Orr fired his sub-machine gun from a blazing barn into an attacking enemy formation. This attack was broken up and resulted in heavy losses to the enemy. Approximately one hundred and fifty enemy casualties were inflicted by Sergeant Orr and his platoon. His superb leadership and inspiring personal example throughout the battle were a major contributory factor in the destruction of the enemy defense line.
Atto, Frederick Black, 1st Lieutenant
First Lieutenant, Canadian Army, 1st Special Service Force. For extraordinary heroism in action on Mount La Difensa, Italy, on 6 December 1943. First Lieutenant Atto led a patrol of three men with a mission of destroying several isolated enemy machine guns, mortar emplacements, and snipers whose fire was causing heavy casualties in his unit. The patrol penetrated deep into enemy territory and neutralized several enemy positions, killing nine of the enemy and taking two prisoners. On the return trip First Lieutenant Atto and the two prisoners became separated from the remainder of the patrol. While proceeding alone with the prisoners, he was fired upon from an enemy position. Armed only with a pistol, he returned the fire and caused five more Germans to surrender to him. He be was forced to fire his remaining bullet to keep the prisoners in line. He brought the seven prisoners to his own lines although his only weapon was empty pistol. First Lieutenant Atto's courage and presence of mind in the face of overwhelming odds reflect highest credit upon himself and the two armies which he serves. Entered military service from Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Barlow, Jack T., Sergeant
Sergeant, Infantry, Canadian Army. For extraordinary heroism in action, on 4 June 1944, in Rome, Italy. The assault section commanded by Sergeant Barlow encountered fierce resistance from an enemy force in strongly prepared emplacements along a railroad embankment. The street along with Sergeant Barlow and his men advanced was swept by close range from enemy machine guns, machine pistols, rifles and tank guns. Noticing that intense and accurate sniper fire from Germans behind a some wall was causing casualties among his men; Sergeant Barlow ran to the wall, jumped to the top and fired his submachine gun at the snipers, killing four of them. As he fired from this exposed position, a bullet struck his weapon, destroying it and wounding him painfully in the hand. Refusing treatment for his wound, he secured a rifle and returned to the action. Shouting encouragement to his men, Sergeant Barlow fired his rifle with deadly effect into the enemy positions. He was struck in the neck by a bullet, but undaunted, he continued to fire until his supply of ammunition was exhausted. Seeing that the ammunition of the entire section was depleted, and not wishing to sacrifice his men, he directed the withdrawal of his group. Without ammunition and suffering from his wounds, he remained in a forward, exposed position until the last of his men had withdrawn to safety. Still refusing treatment or his wounds, Sergeant Barlow led his men over another route of approach and remained in front of them through several more encounters until the objective was taken. Sergeant Barlow's courageous fighting spirit inspired his entire regiment to aggressive and determined action in its drive on the city of Rome. Entered military service from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
|
Posted by kapitanreis on Sunday, August 16 @ 12:31:31 MST
(Read More... | 5620 bytes more | comments? | Score: 0)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Origins of the Devil's Brigade
| Reads: 96 |
In 1942, a group of men was assembled into a force that would change the way the military operated. These men trained more intensively than ever before and would achieve objectives that seemed impossible.
Involving representatives from a wide array of Canadian and American army units, the chosen soldiers faced bureaucratic infighting as well as the possibility of being disbanded before they had even fought together as a unit. But once Allied forces saw them in action, they realized that something unique had been created. Despite the barriers put in its way, the group lived up to its name, the First Special Service Force (FSSF). And the legacy that its members left behind is a legend among soldiers to this day... for they were the very best.
There were many people involved in the creation of the FSSF, but two names are synonymous with the history of the FSSF from its inception. One of them is the civilian who developed the idea of the Force and how it would be different from the rest of the Allied military structure. The other is the man who would take command of that idea and make it a reality. These men represent the qualities that made the FSSF stand out above the rest: a unique way of thinking and looking at a problem or situation and the strength and the will to see the job done.
Training was arduous -- parachuting, skiing, and mountain climbing. Everything was done "at the double" and their physical conditioning was aided by calisthenics, obstacle courses, and long marches with hundred-pound packs. Each man learned how to handle explosives and to use every weapon in the Force's extensive arsenal. Hand-to-hand combat, night fighting, and use of captured weapons rounded out the training program. These specialized skills were necessary, for the Force members were to become shock troops, frequently raiding strategic positions and often parachuting behind enemy lines. Their effectiveness would earn them the nickname, "the Devil's Brigade".
Uniform & Gear
Field Uniform
M43 Field Jacket c/w 1 SSF patch and hood
M41 Field Jacket c/w 1 SSF patch
Mountain trousers c/w suspenders x 2
Mountain cap
Utility cap
Goggles, Ski
Scarves, wool
Wool knitted cap (jeep)
Steel helmet, M1 c/w liner and net cover set
Gloves, combat pair
Socks, wool or olive drab pairs
Combat boots pair
Snow gaiters (mountain) pair
Long underwear sets
Singlets, OD
Shirts, wool (c/w 1 SSF patch each)
Undershorts, OD
White snow covers, jacket, trousers, helmet and rucksack set
Weapons
M3 Fighting Knife with M8Scabbard
Case V-42 fighting knife with horsehide sheath
M-1905 Bayonet with M3 Scabbard
M1 Bayonet with M7 Scabbard
Mountain Pocket Knife
M-1911A1 .45 Caliber Automatic Pistol
M-1 "Garand" .30 Caliber Rifle
M-1A1 Carbine .30 Caliber
M-1A1 Thompson .45 Caliber Submachine Gun
M-1918A2 Browning .30 Caliber Automatic Rifle
M-1919A4 Browning .30 Caliber Machine Gun
M-1941 Johnson .30 Caliber Light Machine Gun
M-1 2.36-inch "Bazooka" Anti-tank Rocket Launcher
M-1 Flame Thrower
60mm Mortar with M-2 Mount
M-6A1 and M-6A2 Anti-tank Rockets
Mk-IIA1 Fragmentation Grenade
|
Posted by kapitanreis on Sunday, August 16 @ 12:24:39 MST
(Read More... | 3503 bytes more | comments? | Score: 0)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FSSF - Tommy Prince
| Reads: 63 |
Thomas George “Tommy” Prince, (October 25, 1915–November 25, 1977) was one of Canada's most decorated First Nations soldiers, serving in World War II and the Korean War. Born in Manitoba, Canada, he was one of eleven children of Henry and Arabella Prince of the Ojibw'e Nation at the Brokenhead reservation in Scanterbury, Manitoba. He was the grandson of the Indian chief, Peguis, who had led his nation from Sault Ste. Marie to the southern end of Lake Winnipeg in the late 1790s, keeping their French name, the Saulteaux. Growing up, Prince became a superb marksman with exceptional tracking skills learned from countless days spent hunting in the wilderness.
At the outbreak of World War II Prince volunteered to fight with the Canadian Army, and although Prince easily met the requirements for recruitment, he was turned down several times before he was finally accepted on June 3, 1940. He was originally a member of the Royal Canadian Engineers, trained as a sapper. He volunteered for airborne duty and was transferred to the U.K.'s parachute school at Ringway, near Manchester. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in February 1941.
In September 1942 Prince returned to Canada and joined the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, and was promoted to sergeant. Shortly after joining this unit it merged with similar American units to form the elite First Special Service Force (1 SSF), later christened the Devil's Brigade by its enemies. Prince, and the other men of this unit were chosen for their rugged outdoor backgrounds and received a rigorous training schedule, often under live fire. All members of this elite squad were trained to be paratroopers and received intense instruction in stealth tactics, hand-to-hand combat, the use of explosives for demolition, amphibious warfare, rock climbing and mountain fighting, and as ski troops. Prince became a "Reconnaissance Sergeant", responsible for moving into forward positions and reporting on the movements of the enemy.
on February 8, 1944, near Littoria, Italy, Prince was sent forward to report the location of several German assembly points, including artillery positions. He set up in an abandoned farmhouse about 200 metres from the enemy assembly area, well behind enemy lines, with 1,400 metres of telephone wire connecting him to the force. He had a clear view of the enemy's emplacements and promptly reported them. An artillery duel followed as the Allies attempted to knock out the guns reported by Prince, and one of these rounds cut the telephone wire. The duel died down as a result. Prince donned civilian clothing, grabbed a hoe and, in full view of German soldiers, pretended to be a farmer weeding his crops. He slowly inched his way along the line till he found where it was damaged, then, pretending to tie his shoelaces, rejoined the wires. After finishing the repairs, he made a show of shaking his fist at the nearby Germans, then again toward the Allied lines.[1] Returning to his lookout spot, he continued his reports, and over the next 24 hours four German batteries were knocked out of action.[2] In all he spent three days behind enemy lines. For this action, Prince was awarded the Military Medal, his citation reading (in part) "Sergeant Prince's courage and utter disregard for personal safety were an inspiration to his fellows and a marked credit to his unit."
When the fighting in southern France ended, Prince was summoned to Buckingham Palace where King George VI presented him with his Military Medal and Silver Star on behalf of the American President. In all, Tommy Prince was decorated nine times, the most of any aboriginal soldier in the war. The war in Europe ended while Prince was in England.
|
Posted by kapitanreis on Sunday, August 16 @ 09:11:51 MST
(Read More... | 3826 bytes more | comments? | Score: 0)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 Stories (2 Pages, 5 Per Page)
[ 1 | 2 ]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Month of Events |
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
| | | | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | | | | | | | | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | | | | | | | | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | | | | | | | | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | | | | | | | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|  |
Online Stats: 
