First Special Service Force
First Special Service Force
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Last names starting with S through Z


Picture
Jean Paul Sabourin

Corporal, 2-2
Montreal, Quebec
Born November 6, 1919
Killed in Action March 7, 1944 at Anzio, Italy
Buried at the Beach Head War Cemetery, Anzio
 
Photo submitted by Mark Nelson


Albert S Sanders

3 Regiment (5 Company)
Rank: Private
Number: 38418158
Date Of Death: 1st June 1944

Additional Information: USA
from Jefferson County,Texas
2nd cousin of Owen B.Sanders
former 4 Ranger Bn
KIA Italy 1 June 1944
Picture

Tony Schiarriza 

Tony Schiarriza was born in Peterborough, Ontario.

Tony volunteered and was accepted into the Force August 16, 1942, serving with 5th Co - 2nd Regiment. Prior to joining the Force, he had enlisted with the Prince of Wales Rangers (Peterborough), on April 20, 1942.

During his service, he was hospitalized 3 times: December 10, 1943 - La Difensa - frozen feet, April 1, 1944 - Anzio Beachhead - wounded in right leg, August 15, 1944 - just west of Nice France - lost his left eye when ''an enemy mortar round hit the concrete highway square in the middle of 2nd Battalion - 2nd Regiment''.

Sgt Schiarriza was Discharged from the Canadian Army on February 20, 1945.

Photos and info submitted by widow
Patricia Schiarizza with the help of Ted Morin.


Floyd S Schmidt

2 Regiment (6 Company)
Rank: Sergeant
Number: A/58248
Date Of Death: 27th August 1944
Age: 24
Gravesite: Mazargues War Cemetery,Marseilles,France Plot 4 Row C Grave 26
Additional Information: Elmira, Canada
son of Fred and Hilda Schmidt,Elmira,Ontario

KIA - 27 Aug 1944 France


Photos submitted by Eric Morgensen


Charles E Schneider

Charles E. Schneider had a nick name of Red or Red Fox. Possibly because he wore a red handlebar mustache when he could get away with it.

2-1 from  Addy, Washington

Photos submitted by Charles' nephew Pat Schneider

Albert Schober

S/Sgt Albert Schober 6-1
5th Section Leader - 3rd Platoon


All pictures submitted by Albert's son
Robert Schober

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
Picture

Thanks to Dave Gilhen for submitting info and photos
Daniel "Dannie" Serrick

1 Regiment (2 Company)
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Number: U/1805
Date Of Death: 29th May 1944
Age: 23
Gravesite: Beach Head War Cemetery,Anzio,Italy XVII.A.3
Additional Information: Canada
born 14.9.1920 Jollimore,Nova Scotia
date of birth "14.10.1920" in other source (error)
son of Daniel W. and Mabel E.Serrick,North-West Arm,Halifax,Nova Scotia
resided Halifax,Nova Scotia
to England
enlisted September 1938
2 Bn Manchester Regiment
evacuated from Dunkirk
Commandos 1941-42
2 Canadian Parachute Bn 1942
FSSF December 1942
awarded Silver Star (posthumous)

KIA - 29 May 1944 Anzio,Italy

Les Shelton

Sgt  3-3
Born in Kincardine Ontario, Canada, Aug 22, 1918
Enlisted in the Kent Regiment at Chatham Ontario, August 22, 1940
Joined FSSF on August 11, 1942
Discharged from Canadian Army on Oct. 22, 1945
Died October 8th, 1995 age 78

Photos submitted by Don Shelton



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Harley Meredith Sigmond
Captain - Sv De, Sv Bn
Minneapolis, Minnesota


Photo submitted
by son Eric Sigmond and daughter in law Mary Sigmond

John M Skelton

Private
1 Regiment (1 Company,1 Bn)
Canada
former Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada
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Francis E Smith

Technician 4th Class
1 Regiment (3 Company,1 Bn)
Helena, Montana

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


Kenneth Vernon Spears

3-2

Photo and info submitted by granddaughter Tanya Benoit

Picture

John S Staiano

from Pacioma CA.  He was a Pfc and became part of the 474 Infantry Regiment when the Force was disbanded.  He was a very good mechanic and I believe part of Maintenance Company.  He also was a barber and provided hair cuts when possible.  One of the pictures shows him giving a hair cut.  I still have the box that is in the lower left of the picture.  He used it to carry barber tools.


Photos and info submitted by grandson Mike Staiano

Lloyd Arthur States

Pictures sent in by Lloyd's grandaughter Faith
who just recently found out that he was a
member of the Force. 8/25/08

Lloyd was from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia

Picture
Charles on right with his brother in RCAF
Charles L Stewart

5-1

Montreal, Quebec

Don W Stirling

Private
Cape Breton,Nova Scotia
t.o.s. 28.8.1944

Name is spelled Stirling in Burhans book and Sterling on SpecialForcesROH. If you are related to Don or knew him please let me know the correct spelling.
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Del J Stonehouse

Sergeant
2 Regiment (5 Company,2 Bn)

Forest, Ontario

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

Picture
Bruce Sullivan

Joined voluntarily Fort Crockett, Galveston Tx. 28 Oct 1940
Assigned Demolitions and Shore Defenses Alaska
Reassigned First Special Service Force
On Disbandment of First Special Service Force was assigned to Company A, 125th Combat Engineers Battalion, 14th Armored Division
Honorable Discharge- Separation Center Fort Sam Houston Texas, 28 Sept, 1945- 125th Combat Engineers

Commendations Awarded:
American Defense Service Medal
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with One Bronze Star (Kiska)
Europe Africa Middle-East Campaign Medal (EAME) with Five Bronze Stars
United States Army Bronze Star

Photo and info submitted by Nephew Steve White

Cyril L Sullivan
6-2

Photos submitted by daughter Pat Emmett


James R Summersides

Welland,Ontario
1 Regiment (4 Company)
48th Highlanders (1945)

Photos and info submitted by Joel Tankersley
S.E Tankersley

S.E Tankersley 4th Co 1st Regiment.
 one of 47 volunteers of the 7th Cavalry Ft Bliss Texas.
 wounded at Mt Defensia.  Hearing ( PH)

Picture
Ernest Edgar Terry

Born 14 Aug 1914 in Lac Vert, Saskatchewan, the first born to father James Terry (1871-1942) and mother Sarah Matilda Quinn (1880-1977).  In 1936 he married Mabel Ellen Govenlock (1919-1970).  They bore two children; Doris and Bryden (Buck). In 1936, Ernie moved his family to Hines Creek, Alta., traveling by way of covered wagon with his brother John, and he tried his hand at trapping.

He enlisted in August 1941, in Military District 13, and was given Regimental Number M66361.  Volunteering for the First Special Service Force, he broke his foot during parachute training in the United States, and was apparently repatriated to Canada when it was learned he was married. 
By 1945 he was a member of D Company of the Calgary Highlanders, and was badly wounded during the Hochwald fighting on 20 February 1945, being injured by a German mortar bomb.


After the war, Terry moved to Dawson's Creek, seperated from his wife, met Gail Churchill with whom he had two more sons, then seperated from her as well, with the sons being put up for adoption.  Ernie worked as a camp cook for oil exploration companies, but also worked at a variety of other jobs such as hunting guide, farmer and working on the Alaska-Canada highway.  Terry passed away at Kamloops, British Columbia on 7 April 1995 at the age of 80.

Frank Thiel

Rank: Sergeant (TEC 4)
Dates of Service:  U.S. Army, 9 Feb 1943 – 1 Nov 1945
Units: 6-1, FSSF (former 4th Ranger Bn, F Co.); 474th Inf Regt at time of separation

Born: 11 Feb 1923 in Myrtle Grove, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana
Died:  4 Dec 1995 at age 72; Gravesite at Westlawn Memorial Park, Gretna, Louisiana
Awards & badges: Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart; Good conduct medal; EAMETO medal w/one bronze and one silver service star, and bronze arrowhead.

Frank Norbert Thiel, Jr. was born on 11 February 1923 in rural south Louisiana.  His parents were Frank Thiel, a state-side WWI Veteran, and Julia C. (Rogers) Thiel.  Upon induction to the U.S. Army in February 1943, Sgt Thiel attended basic training at
Picture
Camp McCain, Mississippi.  In October 1943, he was sent overseas to fight with Darby’s Rangers.  Thiel was part of the Anzio invasion and was wounded in action there.  The bronze arrowhead referenced above is for landing at Anzio on 22 Jan 1944.  The silver and bronze service stars are for participation in the Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe campaigns.  Sgt Thiel was also part of the Allied Force that liberated Rome (June 1944) and liberated Norway.  His last duty station was in Norway and he embarked there for the voyage home to the U.S.
Frank Thiel returned to his home town of Lafitte, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana after the war.  There, he met and married Alma Alexie, whom he called “Al”.  They wed on 25 October 1947.  All friends and family, even his wife, parents and brother, called him by his nickname “Paps”.  Professionally, Frank worked in the oilfield for Texaco for nearly 34 years. Al and Paps had children and grandchildren and remained in Jefferson Parish (of greater New Orleans) their whole lives. They both died in 1995. He was extremely active in many organizations including the American Legion, Knights of Columbus (4th degree), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the Lions Club. Frank led a zestful, happy, and fulfilling life and made the greatest impact of all on the contributor/author of this information.   

Submitted:  CPT Gary Thiel, U.S. Army Reserve

Picture
John Tomlinson

Lieutenant


From the clothes he was Canadian. From the background it was the same place my grandparents were married in Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont.

This picture was in one of my grandparents photo albums. Written next to it was Helen and John Tomlinson 6-5-43

Picture
J. Clarence Trites
1924-1988
Campbellton, New Brunswick

Photo submitted by daughter Lorraine Quinn

J.T. Joe Tullock

5 Company 3 Regiment
from Oshawa,Ontario
former Midland Regiment
died 13.9.1969
Picture

James W. Underwood
3-2
Charleston, WV


Photos submitted by daughter Sandra Burns

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


David W Van Nover

4-2

Wichita, Kansas
Picture

Picture
Daniel Wade

Private Daniel Wade was born on 1913 in Gloucester England and settled in Stewart BC. On Aug 2 1940 he joined the Canadian Army as a member of the Rocky Mountain Rangers. He was accepted into the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion on October 9 1942  and he was sent to Fort Benning Georgia where he qualified for his jump wings. On November 09 1942 he volunteered to join the FSSF and arrived at Fort Henry Helena on November 11 1942. He was unfortunately killed in action at La Difensa Italy on Dec 3 1943 and is buried at the Cassino War Cemetery in Italy.

Stewart, British Columbia
1-2

KIA - 3 Dec 1943 Italy

Picture and info submitted by Gerry Shaw

Edwin 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


Picture
Carl Wheeler
4-3
PFC Carl Wheeler was wounded in the knee area by a machine gun bullet in June 1944 and was released from the hospital for duty in August 1944.  He transferred to Company A, 474th infantry in Dec 1944 and served the rest of the war in that organization.  PFC Carl Wheeler died in Jan 1970 and is buried in the National Cemetery at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Photo given by Paul Grisham


Ronald Allen Whittaker
3-3

Saint John, New Brunswick

KIA 9/10/1944

Buried at Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles, France

Photos and info submitted by granddaughter
Paula-Lyn Cleveland

Maurice D White
3-1
Grassland, Alberta


Photos submitted by son Bruce White

Fred J Whitley
Maintenance Company
Also served with 474th

Photos submitted by Nephew Anthony Whitley on behalf of Darlene Whitley Crabtree (daughter)

Photo taken in France 1944

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Picture
Kenneth G Wickham

FSSF (HQ - S-1 + Adjutant + Executive Officer)
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel

He was the Adjutant General of the US Army and his signature authenticated orders and documents.

Award: Legion of Merit
for service 1942-44

Additional Information: USA from Fort Winfield Scott,California


Donald Dobie Williamson

Lieutenant Colonel
2 Regiment (C.O.) Canada
Col, Hq Det, 2 Regt
Brantford, Ontario
Picture


Howard A Wilson

from Simcoe Ontario

1 -2



Photo and info submitted by daughter Teresa Wilson

Howard C Wilson

Seattle, Washington
1st Lt - 1 Company 3 Regiment

John Bernard Willson

D81184
Warrant Officer II (CSM)
from Montreal,Quebec,Canada
WIA WW2
born 1916
died 1992
prewar Black Watch of Canada
postwar 1st Canadian Rifle Bn and Black Watch
resided  Neiges,Montreal (1946)
married Ann (1918-1988)

Emery Wincentsen

5-3
Shiocton, Wisconsin


He received a Purple Heat, 1st Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, 4 Bronze Battle Starts, 3 Oversees Service Bars, and was wounded in action twice - at Anzio Beach and in Southern France.

Photo and info submitted by daughter Lois Quinn

Picture

Ray Woodburn
4-1
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Edward Wormhoudt

5-3
Burlington, Iowa



Photos and info submitted by Lisa Wormhoudt

Allan Leslie "Spud" Wright

1 Regiment (2 Company)  Burhans says 3-1
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Number: M/3328
Award: Distinguished Service Cross (US),Military Medal
Place: Italy 1944
Additional Information: Canada
from Grande Prairie,Alberta
Lieutenant at time of awards

Photos and info submitted by George's friend Steve Cook
George W Wright

Private
1 Regiment (1 Company,1 Bn)_
Canada
former Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment


Silver Star
"Sergeant, Infantry, Canadian Army. For gallantry in action, on the night of 15-16 February 1944, near Borgo Sabotino, Italy. Sergeant Wright and a fellow solider were assigned an outpost position at the point along the front defended by his regiment. At dawn approximately 35 Germans struck this section of the outpost line, and in the opening fire fight Sergeant Wright's assistant was wounded in the leg and arm. Sergeant Wright ordered his companion to retire. In order to cover the wounded man's withdrawal, he recovered the gunner’s Johnston LMG and magazine pouch and advanced toward the enemy, firing the automatic rife from his hip. Although he placed himself in an extremely dangerous position by advancing alone towards the enemy, he succeeded in delaying the hostile advance sufficiently to permit his comrade to withdraw. Sergeant Wright then made a fighting withdrawal to his own main line of resistance. His courage and regard for the welfare of a fellow soldier reflect the high traditions of the military service. Entered military service from Picton, Ontario Canada."


George Wright wrote a book entitled "The Road That I Have Traveled"  that is a rare find these days.

So George gave us permission to add it onto the website.

Sam Zahara
3-3
Sam was my mother’s brother; one of 12 children of Ukranian descent who grew up on a farm near Gardenton, Manitoba, Canada (about 1 hour drive south of Winnipeg).  
 
Sam enlisted in the Canadian army in 1941 and eventually joined the 1st Canada-US Special Service Force. He trained at Helena, Montana, and served at Kiska and in Italy.  He was wounded three time, and was awarded the US Silver Star for gallantry at Anzio (I am also attaching a scan of some newspaper articles about Sam from 1944). After the war Sam eventually returned to Helena, where he lived until his death in 1972.

Photos and info submitted by nephew Robert Graham


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