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.
Unfortunately we have not been given any scans of 5-1 as of this time. Hopefully we will see some in the future.
Unfortunately we have not been given any scans of 5-1 as of this time. Hopefully we will see some in the future.
5 - 1
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S L Goodman
5-1 My Dad broke ribs after his 1st jump, went up again to get it over with, I think he jumped 3 times. He told my son that he jumped out of an airplane 3 times in 1942 and didn't land until 1958. ( He did not get into an airplane again until he flew to Alaska in 1958) Guess they did not need to parachute into Italy. They were prepared for everything. My Dad was turned down for the FSSF the 1st time he applied because he was married. They did not want married men. He applied again, convinced them that Mom was A ok with him joining up and that he was fluent in Icelandic. The powers that be thought he would be an asset when they went into Norway. The Icelandic language is old Norse, the basis of the Scandinavian languages.He was so glad to get into this outfit. Photos and info submitted by daughter Lynne Shelton |
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M. Herbert Goodwin
5-1 in Helena - 6-1 Italy - Hq 2nd Battalion France Herb Goodwin was never wounded in World War II Herb Goodwin was born in Elmira, Ontario, in 1919. He attended six years of` high school — three years basic and three years commercial, which is equivalent to two years of college. Goodwin joined the Army in 1940 in Kitchener, Ontario, and was part of the Scots Fusiliers of Canada. After N.C.O. school in London, Ontario, and Officer Training Center in Gordon Head, British Columbia, Goodwin graduated from Brockville OTC as a 2nd Lt. in July 1942. One of his classmates was Stan Waters, who went on to become a three star Canadian Army General, and later was a senator in Alberta. Goodwin’s first night in Helena he stopped into the Placer Hotel’s Cheerio Lounge and met Doris Porten of East Helena. Eleven months later they were married in Vermont, where the FSSF was training. |
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When the Devil’s Brigade made its famous assault on Mount la Difensa in southern Italy in December 1944, Goodwin was at the base of the mountain assigned to 6th Company, 1st Regiment, 2nd Battalion. They were pinned down along the trail by heavy shell and mortar fire from the lower German outfits, sustaining heavy casualties. During this action, Goodwin lost a carbine, shattered by an enemy round.
After retrieving their casualties, they were sent to the top of la Difensa as reinforcements. Their next battalion mission, from their base at Caserta, was to take Hill 720. Moving at night, they encountered “friendly fire” from U.S. artillery. “We radioed and finally got them to stop shelling, but lost a lot of men first,” Herb recalls.
“After capturing the hill, we then received heavy enemy fire. We lost our company commander on the top.” Goodwin, who became company commander for the conquest of Mount Majo, was hit by machine gun fire in the attack, which went through his backpack, knocking him down.
“My rations were ruined and a bullet went through my flashlight. But it still worked,” he smiles.
When the force assisted in the siege and breakout of Anzio, Goodwin’s company helped capture 120 Nazis. The 6th was one of the lead units to push off the beachhead. Accompanied by some armor, they exchanged fire with some Tiger tanks past Highway 7, and then joined up with French forces on Highway 6 into Rome. Here Goodwin was promoted to captain and executive officer of 2nd Battalion.
Next, during the invasion of southern France, Goodwin recalls that the taking of a medieval fort on Port-Cros was a costly procedure, but they succeeded with the help of dive-bombers and naval gunfire. In the push eastward to the Franco-Italian border, he lost Floyd Schmidt, a friend from his hometown.
After the FSSF broke up, Goodwin became an instructor at Aldershott, England, and then went to London, Ontario. He and Doris came back to Helena in January 1946. Goodwin worked for Unemployment Compensation from 1946-48; McKinnon-Decker Construction from 1948-1953; and the Montana National Guard from 1954-65. He then owned and operated Herb’s Quick Service (across from the Helena Junior High) from 1965-82 before retiring. Although the couple had no children, they helped raise a niece and two nephews. Doris Goodwin passed away in 2000.
Goodwin, who was never wounded, describes his experiences in World War II as “very exciting; it was quite an adventure. One of the worst parts was at graves registration, to identify people. I remember how lucky I felt to still be alive.”
Taken from the Helena Independant Record http://www.helenair.com/articles/2002/08/17/stories/helena/6a1.txt
Curt Synness, an IR staff writer, is a U.S. Navy veteran. He remembers ordering pop and candy from Herb Goodwin at “Herb’s” from 1965-67 while attending Helena Junior High.
After retrieving their casualties, they were sent to the top of la Difensa as reinforcements. Their next battalion mission, from their base at Caserta, was to take Hill 720. Moving at night, they encountered “friendly fire” from U.S. artillery. “We radioed and finally got them to stop shelling, but lost a lot of men first,” Herb recalls.
“After capturing the hill, we then received heavy enemy fire. We lost our company commander on the top.” Goodwin, who became company commander for the conquest of Mount Majo, was hit by machine gun fire in the attack, which went through his backpack, knocking him down.
“My rations were ruined and a bullet went through my flashlight. But it still worked,” he smiles.
When the force assisted in the siege and breakout of Anzio, Goodwin’s company helped capture 120 Nazis. The 6th was one of the lead units to push off the beachhead. Accompanied by some armor, they exchanged fire with some Tiger tanks past Highway 7, and then joined up with French forces on Highway 6 into Rome. Here Goodwin was promoted to captain and executive officer of 2nd Battalion.
Next, during the invasion of southern France, Goodwin recalls that the taking of a medieval fort on Port-Cros was a costly procedure, but they succeeded with the help of dive-bombers and naval gunfire. In the push eastward to the Franco-Italian border, he lost Floyd Schmidt, a friend from his hometown.
After the FSSF broke up, Goodwin became an instructor at Aldershott, England, and then went to London, Ontario. He and Doris came back to Helena in January 1946. Goodwin worked for Unemployment Compensation from 1946-48; McKinnon-Decker Construction from 1948-1953; and the Montana National Guard from 1954-65. He then owned and operated Herb’s Quick Service (across from the Helena Junior High) from 1965-82 before retiring. Although the couple had no children, they helped raise a niece and two nephews. Doris Goodwin passed away in 2000.
Goodwin, who was never wounded, describes his experiences in World War II as “very exciting; it was quite an adventure. One of the worst parts was at graves registration, to identify people. I remember how lucky I felt to still be alive.”
Taken from the Helena Independant Record http://www.helenair.com/articles/2002/08/17/stories/helena/6a1.txt
Curt Synness, an IR staff writer, is a U.S. Navy veteran. He remembers ordering pop and candy from Herb Goodwin at “Herb’s” from 1965-67 while attending Helena Junior High.
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James F Harris
1 Regiment (5 Company) Ironton, Ohio former 1 Ranger Bn (Company B) married Brenda (7 children) died 24.8.2002 |
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Norman Joseph Ingram
Norman lived in Winnipeg and enlisted in the Canadian Army on 16 April, 1942. Norman saw service with the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment in the Italian Campaign before joining the FSSF. Norman volunteered for the First Special Service Force as a replacement for losses suffered during the push to Rome. He was officially taken on strength by the 1st Canadian Special Service Battalion on 23 June, 1944. His name appears on the replacement list dated 5 July, which includes the names of all the replacements that joined at that time. This list was made to record the fact that all these men had signed the Force declaration when they joined. While with the First Special Service Force, Norman was a member of 5 Company 1 Regiment (5-1) (according to the Burhans book, which erroneously has him listed as H.J. Ingram). |
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Upon disbandment of the FSSF, Norman was assigned to the Perth Regiment, with whom he finished the War.
Along with several pictures of Norman during his FSSF tenure, I have included a picture of an original FSSF V-Mail which he sent home to his mother, as well as a modern picture of his “coming home” uniform, which still wears the FSSF patch on the sleeve.
Norman passed away in 1990
Photos and Info submitted by Grandson in Law
Craig Baron
Along with several pictures of Norman during his FSSF tenure, I have included a picture of an original FSSF V-Mail which he sent home to his mother, as well as a modern picture of his “coming home” uniform, which still wears the FSSF patch on the sleeve.
Norman passed away in 1990
Photos and Info submitted by Grandson in Law
Craig Baron
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Maurice de Macedo
5th Company, 1st Regiment KIA on December 3, 1943 Photos submitted by niece Marie Mitchell |
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Gerald W McFadden
Major Hq Det 2nd Bn 1st Regt & 5-1 Brockville, Ontario These picture were in my grandparents photo albums. From finding them I was able to see that Jerry and my grandfather Herb must have been great friends. Photos submitted by Eric Morgensen To listen to a story about the liberation of Rome from Jerry himself go to the Memory Project here http://66.241.252.164/digital-archive/profile.cfm?collectionid=856&cnf=wwII |
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Jim Parnell
He joined the U.S. Army (3rd Ranger Btn. in April of 1943). However, when his unit was decimated at Cisterna, Italy in January of 1944, he was reassigned to the First Special Services Force (5-1). He stayed with them until December of 1944. In April of 1945, he participated in the liberation of Dachau (I don't know which unit). He was then sent to Norway with the 474th Infantry Regiment in May of 1945. He returned home in October of 1945. Photos and info submitted by son Timothy Parnell |
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Charles L Stewart
5-1 Montreal, Quebec |
Charles on right with his brother in RCAF
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