4 - 2
The "mugshot" photos are scans of negatives that Special Forces Historians were given from the Association and they scanned them for us. Huge thanks to Ken Finlayson and Earl Moniz and their team for all the hard work.
This grouping of 4-2 has 87 total photos
This grouping of 4-2 has 87 total photos
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Morris Breakstone
4-2 from Bronx, New York Morris was a latecomer to the Force joining in Aug 1944. Here he is pictured before that time. After the disbandment of the "Force" he was put into the 474th. The following is the obituary for Morris Breakstone Morris Breakstone, 86, left this life on May 27, at Bixby Medical Center. He was born on August 15, 1921 the first son of Harry Aaron and Elsie (Beck) and grew up in the Bronx, New York City. For Morris, the Bronx seemed the center of the universe peopled by his heroes, including his father and uncles and the larger than life characters that were their friends. His life obsessions of physical fitness, family and fighting injustice took root in those early and happy years. |
Special thanks to Angela Breakstone for use of photos and info.
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During World War II, Morris was assigned to an infantry company and later volunteered for and saw combat with the First Special Service Force, an elite American and Canadian commando brigade that would become the model for the U.S. Special Forces, known as the Green Berets and which was depicted in the film the Devil’s Brigade featuring William Holden and Cliff Robertson.
After the war he enrolled under the G.I. Bill at the City College of New York, majoring in psychology and earning a Master’s degree. He worked as an intern, an attendant, and psychologist in two mental hospitals. Later he was promoted to Director of Psychology at the Coldwater State Home and Training School. While at the Training School, Morris secretly investigated allegations that African American patients were being unfairly punished for reasons clearly racist. He presented his findings to mental health and civil rights officials and was fired twice in retaliation. After a ten year battle Morris was finally vindicated in court. He helped open the Lenawee Vo-Tech Center and retired from the Lenawee Intermediate School District in 1983.
As a clinical psychologist he had essays accepted for publication in Mental Health Michigan College Personnel Association Journal and Review of Existential Psychology and Psychiatry.
Morris used his life experiences to bring authenticity to novels he wrote – Company Punishment, a World War II novel, Seclusion, which took place in a mental hospital, and Views From the Leaning Rest Position, a collection of short stories and essays depicting many of the challenges Morris faced in life – love and sacrifice, racism, anti-Semitism and the struggles of a family during the Great Depression.
Fitness was always an important part of his life and at the age of 70 Morris performed 709 push-ups in 34 minutes – a feat cited in Ripley’s “Believe It or Not” and for which he received a standing ovation at the Michigan Senate.
He is survived by his wife, Angela (Fritz), whom he married on June 18, 1978; two children, Laura Russelle (Bobby) Breakstone-Crees and Harry Aaron Breakstone; two grandsons, Benjamin (Julie) Brinson and Joseph Mitchell-Breakstone; three great grandchildren, Benjamin Jr., Danielle, and Kaitlyn; his sister-in-law Marlene; nephews Alan and Christian and nieces Carole and Heather; his cousin Philo; Teenohk and Shneeya, his cats; and many dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Elsie and his brother Jack.
He will be remembered in many ways – as the personal liberator of a young Dutch cousin, as someone who acknowledged the uniqueness of each and every person, a master of the English language, an inspirational human being and hero to many; someone who always strived to be a mensch.
After the war he enrolled under the G.I. Bill at the City College of New York, majoring in psychology and earning a Master’s degree. He worked as an intern, an attendant, and psychologist in two mental hospitals. Later he was promoted to Director of Psychology at the Coldwater State Home and Training School. While at the Training School, Morris secretly investigated allegations that African American patients were being unfairly punished for reasons clearly racist. He presented his findings to mental health and civil rights officials and was fired twice in retaliation. After a ten year battle Morris was finally vindicated in court. He helped open the Lenawee Vo-Tech Center and retired from the Lenawee Intermediate School District in 1983.
As a clinical psychologist he had essays accepted for publication in Mental Health Michigan College Personnel Association Journal and Review of Existential Psychology and Psychiatry.
Morris used his life experiences to bring authenticity to novels he wrote – Company Punishment, a World War II novel, Seclusion, which took place in a mental hospital, and Views From the Leaning Rest Position, a collection of short stories and essays depicting many of the challenges Morris faced in life – love and sacrifice, racism, anti-Semitism and the struggles of a family during the Great Depression.
Fitness was always an important part of his life and at the age of 70 Morris performed 709 push-ups in 34 minutes – a feat cited in Ripley’s “Believe It or Not” and for which he received a standing ovation at the Michigan Senate.
He is survived by his wife, Angela (Fritz), whom he married on June 18, 1978; two children, Laura Russelle (Bobby) Breakstone-Crees and Harry Aaron Breakstone; two grandsons, Benjamin (Julie) Brinson and Joseph Mitchell-Breakstone; three great grandchildren, Benjamin Jr., Danielle, and Kaitlyn; his sister-in-law Marlene; nephews Alan and Christian and nieces Carole and Heather; his cousin Philo; Teenohk and Shneeya, his cats; and many dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Elsie and his brother Jack.
He will be remembered in many ways – as the personal liberator of a young Dutch cousin, as someone who acknowledged the uniqueness of each and every person, a master of the English language, an inspirational human being and hero to many; someone who always strived to be a mensch.
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Lawrence (Junior) E. Durant
2 Regiment (4 Company) Rank: Private Award: Bronze Star awarded 2007 Additional Information: from Prince Edward Island,Canada |
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Clarence Norman Guynup
2 Regiment (4 Company) Rank: Private Number: M/105942 Date Of Death: 3rd October 1944 Age: 20 Gravesite: Mazargues War Cemetery,Marseilles,France Plot 3 Row D Grave 25 Additional Information: Canada son of Clarence Norman and Blanche Guynup,Delburne,Alberta KIA 3 Oct 1944 France L. Durant, 4-2, states that he was near Guynup when a mortar round hit close to them and killed Guynup. He says the Force was on the move and he couldnot retrieve Guynups body. (No man left behind was their unspoken motto) |
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Harold "Ted" Johnson
4-2 South Saint Paul, Minnesota Photos submitted by granddaughter Tricia |
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Alec Edward Lyle
Sergeant C65528 Canada 2 Regiment (4 Company) died 1985 From Bowmanville, Ontario Photos given to him by Alec's son John |
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Edward L. McDonald
4th Company – 2nd Regiment Staff Sergeant Como, Hopkins County, Texas Date of Death: 29 May, 1944 Age 21 Gravesite: Woodland Cemetery, Como, Texas Son of Elmer and Faye McDonald, Wife of Virginia Lee Stephens McDonald Award: Bronze Star, Purple Heart Additional Information: Enlisted July 23, 1940, serving in Troop “B” 5th Cavalry in Fort Clark and Fort Bliss, Texas for two years, before he volunteered for the First Special Service Force, August 8, 1942. On the night of May 28th, Colonel Frederick sent out a demolition patrol from Artena, Italy that included Edward’s platoon of the 4-2 to infiltrate behind enemy lines to destroy a road bridge and a railroad bridge on Highway 6. At both locations a superiority of enemy prevented them from carrying out their plan. The S-3 reports states that on the night of May 28-29, a 4-2 platoon attempted to blow up two bridges about six km northeast of Artena. One bridge was on Highway 6 and the other was 200 meters away on the railway line that ran parallel to the highway. They ran out of darkness before they could blow the bridges but returned the next night. Their second attempt also failed because of heavy enemy emplacements around the bridges. On their return trip, they got into a fight with an enemy patrol of 15 men. One enemy was killed and 4 were captured. Edward McDonald was killed, three other Forcemen were WIA, and one captured. (Statement concerning his death Courtesy of Karen Bassie) |
Photos and info given by niece Sarah Stelzer
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Wilfrid J Paquette
4-2 Hull, Quebec Photo submitted by Wilfrid Paquette |
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Harry Keith Richardson
2 Regiment (4 Company) Rank: Sergeant Number: C/40568 Date Of Death: 4th December 1943 Age: 23 Gravesite: Cassino War Cemetery,Italy IV.F.1 Additional Information: Canada son of Thomas and Cassetta Richardson,Warkworth,Ontario husband of Dorothy Richardson KIA - 4 Dec 1943 Italy |
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W. S. Bill Story
2 Regiment (4 Company) Rank: First Lieutenant Number: Award: Bronze Star Place: Italy 1944 Additional Information: from Winnipeg,Manitoba,Canada or from Vernon,British Columbia,Canada former Sgt,2 Regiment (5 Company,2 Bn) award made 2007 |
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James Ray Vance Jr
Private First Class 2 Regiment (4 Company) from Barrett, West Virginia former 4 Ranger Bn (Company D) WIA 3 times including 22.2.1944 and 23.5.1944 discharged 31.12.1945 married Margaret E. Miller (9 children) died 21.9.1988 age 64 |
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David W Van Nover
4-2 Wichita, Kansas |
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