All HEADQUARTERS
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 HQ has 104 total photos
This grouping of HQ has 104 total photos
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John F. R. (Jack) Akehurst
1 Regiment (Commanding Officer) Rank: Lieutenant Colonel Awarded: Distinguished Service Order Island of Oort Gros Additional Information: Canada from Kirkland Lake,Ontario former Algonquin Regiment and 1st Special Service Bn (C.O.) awarded Mention in Despatches with Algonquin Regiment |
Donald A Ballantyne
from Westmount,Ontario
3 Regiment (HQ Det,1 Bn)
from Westmount,Ontario
3 Regiment (HQ Det,1 Bn)
R Wilson Becket
Lt Col HQ Det 3rd Regt Montreal, Quebec |
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John Gilbert Bourne
3 Regiment (C.O. 2 Bn)
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Award: Mention in Despatches
Place: Italy 1944
Additional Information: Canada
from Montreal,Quebec
3 Regiment (C.O. 2 Bn)
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Award: Mention in Despatches
Place: Italy 1944
Additional Information: Canada
from Montreal,Quebec
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Richard Ray Cart
FSSF Pilot Photos submitted by granddaughter Tania Tolbert |
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William L Douglas
I am trying to locate any surviving members who may have known my Father SSGT William L. Douglas. He was in HQ DET 2nd REGT. Please contact me at 615-477-8228 or [email protected] Thank you all for your Service, Bravery, and Courage, Respectfully Bill Douglas From Herington, Kansas Photos submitted by William's son Bill Douglas. |
Emil P Eschenburg
Lieutenant Colonel HQ Det FSSF Born 26.12.1915 Mount Clemens,Michigan son of Paul Fredrick and Ella Marie (nee Weise) Eschenburg Graduated Mount Clemens High School Graduated Michigan State University Graduated National War College Graduated Harvard University Graduated George Washington University Michigan National Guard (Artillery) FSSF (HQ Det) 1942-44 Assistant Chief of Staff G-3,45th Infantry Division (LtCol) 25.12.1944-1945 35th Infantry Regiment (Colonel) in Korea (C.O. 25.4.1953-14.10.1953) General staff,1st Corps Assistant Commander 101st Airborne Division (Vietnam War) Brigadier General Deputy Commanding General,Capital Military Assistance Command, Tan Son Nhut,Vietnam 1968 Retired 1970 115 military decorations (77 for valor) Real estate business after army service Married Dolly (4 children) Died 17.12.2004 Helena,Montana |
Emil Eschenburg retired in Helena after 31 years of military duty
Emil Eschenburg was a 26-year-old Army major with the FSSF, and part of the retaking of Kiska, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, on Aug. 15, 1943. As the six GIs climbed into their five-man rubber raft, they were unaware that the Japanese had already evacuated only mere hours earlier.
Shortly after debarking into the black, icy waters of the Bering Sea, Emil’s overloaded boat was immediately swamped by a four-foot wave.
“From that point on the tide took us further and further from the shore,” Emil relates. After five hours of desperate bailing and paddling, someone spotted an object in the darkness. “I grabbed my whistle and started blowing. I blew and blew that whistle with all the adrenaline in my body.”
An American PT boat picked up the men and delivered them to a troopship.
“We thawed out and took part in the landing at 6:30 a.m.,” Emil said.
Eschenburg was born on a farm near Mount Clemens, Mich., in 1916. One of seven children, he attended a one-room grade school. After graduating high school, he enrolled at Michigan State.
“During my four years at Michigan State, I carried a full schedule, worked 40 hours a week, and lived on 1½ meals per day,” Eschenburg said.
The Canadian-Americans’ next mission after Alaska would be the assault on the impregnable Mount la Difensa in southern Italy.
General Frederick and Lt. Colonel Eschenburg reconnoitered the objective in an artillery observer plane — a two-seated Piper Cub. “While flying over this very high mountain, we observed that one side was a straight-up cliff. The Nazi anti-aircraft fire was like the Fourth-of-July fireworks.”
During the invasion of southern France, Eschenburg became lead scout (through booby traps and land mines) for his 200 men in the middle of the night after the landing. Later he was attached to the 6th Army and participated in the liberation of the Gironde Estuary in western France and the opening of the Port of Bordeaux to Allied shipping. On VE Day, Eschenburg’s outfit took over the Dachau Concentration Camp in Munich.
Eschenburg returned for stateside duty after the war, and then, during the Korean War in 1952, he commanded the 35th Infantry Regiment of the 25th Infantry Division.
Eschenburg’s outfit relieved the Marines who were holding the line next to the Panmunjom Corridor, and engaged in combat against the North Koreans and Chinese.
He served two tours in Vietnam as First Division’s assistant commander. While his superior was stateside, Eschenburg commanded the division during the intense combat of the Tet Offensive in 1968. Determined to continue to lead by example, he spent part of every day under fire with his men.
Eschenburg retired from the Army in 1970 after 31 years of military duty, 23 years as a parachutist. He served in three wars, spent seven years in combat, fought in 16 battles and received 115 decorations — 77 of those for valor.
He returned to Helena in 1972 with his wife Dolly (the couple has four children), where he has made a second career in real estate. With indefatigable energy, he still works more than 40 hours per week at 84 years of age.
Referring to his generation, Emil said, “Next time you see a guy with white hair, in his 80s, go up and shake his hand. Chances are he was in the war.”
Taken from the Helena Independant Record http://www.helenair.com/articles/2002/08/17/stories/helena/6a1.txt
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George Evashwick
Major Hq Det 2nd Regt Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania If you didn't know that your father or grandfathers FSSF items are colletibles. Here is a perfect example. As I am always looking on Ebay for items of FSSF importance I occasionally find pictures of someone. All of these items were listed on Ebay and listed as Major Eastwick's. Upon further research I found no officer named Eastwick. So I looked closer at the collection with the name on it and found it was indeed Maj. George Evashwick. I doubt that these belonged to family of George but rather to a collector. So I have taken it upon myself to add the pictures to the site in memory of Maj. Evashwick. Hopefully someday one of his relatives will see this page and find the pictures of his FSSF items. Did you know? - That most original FSSF spearhead patches on Ebay sell for about $100!!! Make sure you hold onto them and pass them to your family!!! How's that for collectible!!! |
Robert T. Frederick
Robert T. Frederick was born on March 14, 1907 in San Francisco, California. He attended Staunton Military Academy from 1923 to 1924 and the United States Military Academy at West Point from 1924 to 1928. Upon graduation from West Point, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery. He graduated from the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1939. In 1942, as a staff officer serving in the War Department, then-Lieutenant Colonel Frederick was tasked with raising the joint U.S.-Canadian force which became the 1st Special Service Force. The unit, activated on July 9, 1942 at Fort William Henry Harrison, Montana, was originally intended for commando operations in Norway, and trained extensively in winter and mountain warfare, as well as hand-to-hand combat and other |
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infantry skills. In April 1943, the unit moved to Vermont for training, first at Camp Bradford and then at Fort Ethan Allen. The Norway mission was cancelled, however, and the 1st Special Service Force was sent instead to the Aleutian Islands in July 1943. It returned to the continental United States in September, and then left in October for the European theater.
Frederick's men arrived in Casablanca in French Morocco in November 1943 and quickly moved to the Italian front. Landing at Naples on November 19, 1943, the 1st Special Service Force went into the line. In December 1943 and January 1944, the 1st Special Service Force conducted a series of operations at Monte la Difensa, Monte la Remetanea, Monte Sammucro (Hill 720) and Monte Vischiataro. After the 1st Special Service Force (or Devil's Brigade) attacked and captured the enemy forces at the impregnable Monte la Difensa, the victory prompted Winston Churchill to declare that Robert Frederick was "the greatest fighting general of all time" and "if we had had a dozen more like him we would have smashed Hitler in 1942".[1]
Frederick was promoted to brigadier general in January 1944. On February 2, 1944, Frederick's men landed at Anzio and went into action along the Mussolini Canal. They were the first Allied troops to enter Rome on June 4, 1944. For valor with the 1st Special Service Force in Italy, Brigadier General Frederick was twice decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross, the United States Army's second highest valor award. The first award was for actions on January 10–13, 1944 and the second for actions on June 4, 1944. While at Anzio he was wounded a number of times, including two separate wounds on a single day.
On June 23, 1944, Brigadier General Frederick announced he was leaving the unit. He was to be promoted to major general and given command of an ad hoc division-sized airborne formation, the 1st Airborne Task Force, for the invasion of Southern France (Operation Dragoon). The task force, formed that July, consisted of the British 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade and the U.S. 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion, 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team, 550th Glider Infantry Battalion, 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion and 460th and 463rd Parachute Field Artillery Battalions, along with various support units.
Frederick's men arrived in Casablanca in French Morocco in November 1943 and quickly moved to the Italian front. Landing at Naples on November 19, 1943, the 1st Special Service Force went into the line. In December 1943 and January 1944, the 1st Special Service Force conducted a series of operations at Monte la Difensa, Monte la Remetanea, Monte Sammucro (Hill 720) and Monte Vischiataro. After the 1st Special Service Force (or Devil's Brigade) attacked and captured the enemy forces at the impregnable Monte la Difensa, the victory prompted Winston Churchill to declare that Robert Frederick was "the greatest fighting general of all time" and "if we had had a dozen more like him we would have smashed Hitler in 1942".[1]
Frederick was promoted to brigadier general in January 1944. On February 2, 1944, Frederick's men landed at Anzio and went into action along the Mussolini Canal. They were the first Allied troops to enter Rome on June 4, 1944. For valor with the 1st Special Service Force in Italy, Brigadier General Frederick was twice decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross, the United States Army's second highest valor award. The first award was for actions on January 10–13, 1944 and the second for actions on June 4, 1944. While at Anzio he was wounded a number of times, including two separate wounds on a single day.
On June 23, 1944, Brigadier General Frederick announced he was leaving the unit. He was to be promoted to major general and given command of an ad hoc division-sized airborne formation, the 1st Airborne Task Force, for the invasion of Southern France (Operation Dragoon). The task force, formed that July, consisted of the British 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade and the U.S. 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion, 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team, 550th Glider Infantry Battalion, 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion and 460th and 463rd Parachute Field Artillery Battalions, along with various support units.
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.
Palmer O Griffiths
Here is what Palmer has to say about his grandfather Palmer O. Griffiths My Grandfather Palmer O. Griffiths served in the FSSF and last year he was awarded the Bronze Star from the United States Government. He was hq det 1st rgt. Sadly he passed away March 29,2008.I was very close to him and will miss him alot.Unlike my friends I got to meet my Grandfather and he shared some of his stories with me of his time in the Black Devils.I'm very grateful for what he and the other men in the FSSF did to help defeat Nazi tyranny. |
Story
As for Stories my Grandfather told me snippets of things.He said that one time he and another guy were sent out on a night patrol and to fix a broken phone line.They thought they found the line but here it was the wrong one.It turned out they found the one that belonged to the Germans and followed it right into the German lines.He said that he and his buddy had to lay low for a while and hide because the place was crawling with a bunch of Panzer tanks and German troops all over the place. I think he found out too that they were SS.I'm not sure of what regiment or division they were or belonged to.Anyhow he said that they were hiding behind rocks and brush if I remember correctly.He said they cut the German communication line and managed to get out of there unscathed.
Thank you Palmer for submitting info about your grandfather!!!
As for Stories my Grandfather told me snippets of things.He said that one time he and another guy were sent out on a night patrol and to fix a broken phone line.They thought they found the line but here it was the wrong one.It turned out they found the one that belonged to the Germans and followed it right into the German lines.He said that he and his buddy had to lay low for a while and hide because the place was crawling with a bunch of Panzer tanks and German troops all over the place. I think he found out too that they were SS.I'm not sure of what regiment or division they were or belonged to.Anyhow he said that they were hiding behind rocks and brush if I remember correctly.He said they cut the German communication line and managed to get out of there unscathed.
Thank you Palmer for submitting info about your grandfather!!!
James Emmett Guerin
Hq Det 1 Regt Peterborough, Ontario - DOW 28 May 1944 Photos and info submitted by James 1st cousin Jim Hawley. |
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Rowland Haydon Hawkyard
Hq Det 3rd Regt Toronto, Ontario Photos submitted by daughter Marianne |
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Medric Joseph LeBlanc
Born Oct 6 1923 raised in Saint John N.B. After being struck off strength of the New Brunswick Rangers, summer of 42 and waiting in Halifax for overseas shipment he volunteered for the force and arrived in Helena Montana in August 1942. Initially assigned to 4th company, 3rd regiment, then after radio training to 2nd battalion headquarters,3rd regiment(as a T-4) in communications . Wounded in Anzio laying a phone line when hit in the right arm February 14 1944 classified as a 40% disability. Photo and info submitted by son Thomas LeBlanc |
Thomas Cail MacWilliam
Lt. Col. officer commanding the 1st Battalion, 2nd Regiment, who lead the assault on La Difensa, 3 Dec 43 and was killed there after the successful taking of the peak and just before they could move on to attack La Remantena. It looks to me like it was taken when he was still a Major as, while you can't see the rank insignia on his shoulder, it looks like there is just one thing there, which would be the crown (a Lt. Col. would have a crown and a "pip"). I'm pretty sure the collar dogs are those of the New Brunswick Rangers, his original unit before joining the Force. Info submitted by son Tom MacWlliam. Photo from original negatives of the FSSF archives. |
George Newk McCall
Captain Fq Hq Det Townsend, Montana Photos and info submitted by Capt McCall's Nephew Matt Brown |
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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. 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 |
Hugh McVeigh
HQ 2nd Regt Winnipeg, Manitoba Photos submitted by granddaughter Kerri Miller |
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Arthur C Neeseman
Major 1 Regiment (HQ Detachment - Medical Officer) Fox Lake,Illinois,USA born Rockford,Illinois son of August F. Neeseman,1130 North Court Street,Rockford,Ill. graduated Old Central High School 1923 graduated University of Illinois surgeon prewar Major Neeseman was considered a "Jumping Doctor" and there is a great article about him and his life in the Force found below. I do not know much more about him, but I will after I read the many articles and stories I have from him. These pictures were passed down through the hands of various Force members including Bill Story and my grandfather Herb Goodwin. I hope to honor Major Neeseman by sharing these things with the world. I do not know if he had any posterity but hope they will find this someday if he did. |
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Thomas Edwin Pearce Jr
Major - HQ Det 1st Bn 1st Regiment Seattle, Washington KIA - 9 Jan 1944 Photo of Major Pearce submitted by daughter Lynn Nymark Gravesite photos from the US Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy by Eric Morgensen |
David A Peterson
Hq Det Photos and info submitted by Håkon Reinertsen |
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Finn W Roll
Capt Fe Hq Det Oslo, Norway In the book "The Devil's Brigade" by Robert H. Adleman and George Walton (see the Index on page 257) Finn is mentioned several places. He was Captain Robert D. Burhans (intelligence officer) assistant Intelligence officer. Photo submitted by nephew Jan Roll |
John Myer Secter
3 Regiment (HQ - Executive Officer) Rank: Major Date Of Death: 28th May 1944 Age: 29 Gravesite: Beach Head War Cemetery,Anzio,Italy XVII.A.7 Additional Information: Canada born Winnipeg,Manitoba son of Peter and Jennie Secter,276 Mountain Avenue,Winnipeg,Manitoba award Mention in Despatches KIA - 28 May 1944 - Anzio,Italy |
Norman Smith
1st Regt HQ Norman was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, moved to Ninga, Manitoba with his family when he was five, and joined the FSSF for training in the summer of 1942 in Fort Harrison at Helena, MT. His years in the Force were the best of his life; the men he met there became his brothers. He died in November 2008. Photos and info submitted by daughter Julie-Smith Allen |
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Edward Anderson "Ted" Walker
Unit: 3 Regiment (C.O.) + FSSF (C.O.) Rank: Lieutenant Colonel + Colonel Awarded: Silver Star 1943-44 Additional Information: Born 10.11.1909 Center Point,Kerr County,Texas Graduated New Mexico Military Institute 1927 Graduated USMA,West Point 1931 FSSF 1943-44 7th Infantry Regiment,3rd Division (C.O.) (Korean War) Commander Arkansas Military District,Little Rock G.O.C. 24th Division 1959-61 Assistant Chief of Staff for Training and Ops,Pacific Resigned over charges of politically indoctrinating his troops and distributing right-wing literature 2.11.1961 Arrested for insurrection Wounded in attempted murder by Lee Harvey Oswald,Dallas 10.4.1963 Died: 31.10.1993 Dallas,Texas Buried: Center Point Cemetery,Kerr County,Texas |