None of those operations actually happened, because, although we developed a snow vehicle, the Weasel, for the operations in Norway and the Transylvanian Alps, we never went to either of those places. Advertisement. Starting at 0130 hours, the campaign to oust the Japanese from the Aleutian island of Kiska, Operation COTTAGE, got underway. In his house was a framed citation from the people of Norway wish to thank you. The citation was for his father, Gerhard Strom, for taking part in the Liberation on May 8, 1945. The red cross appears on the Norwegian flag and alludes to the 3d Battalion (99th Infantry Battalion), constituted and activated in 1942, and composed of the citizens of Norway living in the United States and Norwegian speaking Americans. Relieved from the 12th Division and demobilized 31 January 1919 at Camp Devens. 10TH INFANTRY REGIMENT DUI Crest - Inv# B395 - $5.44. Source: MNHS Collections. MG FREDERICK: Oh, a couple hundred prisoners. The Force spearheaded the drive to Rome in June, by securing key bridges for the Allied armor advance. COL Fredericks leadership in combat that earned him praise and promotions. Thank you for preserving the historic document presented to your neighbor, Gerhard Strom. Relieved from the 12th Division and demobilized 31 January 1919 at Camp Devens. A Silver color and metal enamel device 118 inches (2.9cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure, a cross Gules fimbriated Argent, in dexter chief two arrows saltirewise of the like, and in sinister base a fleur-de-lis of the last. [page 317] COMMAND AND STAFF Commanding General. Clutchbacked and Meyer 22M hallmarked. MG FREDERICK: Well, particularly at Anzio, we were there for four months, and when they went out at night on patrols, they blackened their faces. Akershus Fortress was great until I reached the Resistance museum, l couldnt finish the tour. The fleur-de-lis represents the Regiments European battle honors awarded for service during World War II. Monte la Difensa had held up the 5th United States Army for several weeks. In April the Regiment joined Patton's third Army for the final drive to Germany. His leadership and intrepidity in combat merited promotion to Brigadier General (BG) on 18 January 1944. The US military still maintains a presence on the site, with some buildings and properties being used by reservists from the US Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force. 75th Ranger Regiment Special Forces Infantry Regiments/Battalions Army Campaigns Pre-divisional Orders of Battle . MG FREDERICK: Well, the first operation we had was at Kiska in the Aleutian Islands. The First Special Service Force was reassigned the task of breaking the World War II (1941-1945) When the United States entered World War II in December 1941, Fort Snelling became the induction point for more than 300,000 men and women who joined the armed forces. Redesignated 74th Infantry on 21 June 1954 and activated on 8 October 1954 at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. https://www.nordicmuseum.org/. Next question. After the King arrived, a column of Norwegian fighters flew over the fortress in formation. The Force spearheaded the assault on Kiska in the Aleutian Islands, defended a major portion of the Anzio beach head, breached the German Winter Line in Italy at Monte La Difensa, and was the first Allied unit to enter Rome. Subscribe to 474th Infantry Regiment Footer menu. And at Anzio, they were very fine soldiers. Size is 29 x 19 inches. This patch was used by both the 474th Infantry regiment in WWII and the 74th RCT in the 1950s. The Norwegian Royal Family has a long tradition of participation in such events. In the Summer of 1944 my mother, then 9 years old, was evacuated from Bergen by the Red Cross and sent to live on a small farm, with strangers, above Etne. John enlisted for military service in April 1942 and was honorably. Today, May 8th 2022 is the anniversary of the Liberation of Norway. The FSSF was dispatched to Italy where the Fifth U.S. Army, commanded by Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark, was stalemated by the Germans. Nisei Womens Army Corps (WAC) detachment at Fort Snelling, about 1945. About 350 Americans went to airborne units in need of experienced replacements, and the remaining FSSF soldiers formed the nucleus of the 474th Infantry Regiment (Separate) along with the 99th Infantry Battalion (made up of Norwegian-Americans) and saw service in Germany and Norway. After the Ardennes-Alsace (Battle of the Bulge) Campaign, the 99th was made part of special force 474th Infantry Regiment (Separate) who's three battalions were made from American portion of FSSF + many replacements to fill battalion, remaining survivors of Ranger battalions 1st, 2nd & 4th Battalions + many replacements to fill battalion and the document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Words of Norway tells the stories of Norway to the world, and helps Norwegian companies do the same. This unit earned a campaign streamer for Central Europe. Constituted 9 July 1918 in the Regular Army as the 74th Infantry and assigned to the 12th Division. The 74th Infantry Regiment was a regular infantry regiment of the United States Army. MG FREDERICK: Well, when I told General Clark that we could take Monte la Difensa, we were given orders to go up there. Flugabwehrbrigade (Vereinigtes Knigreich) Die 80. Most recruits stayed at Fort Snelling for only a short time before they were transferred to other military posts to begin their basic training. [citation needed] The make-up of the remainder of the Regiment was American personnel from the joint Canadian-American 1st Special Service Force; signified by its badge of two crossed arrows. Organized July 1918 at Camp Devens, Massachusetts. You can expect to see the Norwegian flag flying high on all public buildings and from many private houses and apartment balconies. Operation PLOUGH was ultimately shelved, but Eisenhower considered Frederick an expert on winter operations in the mountains and recommended in the spring of 1942 that he command the FSSF. The Parliament's President, the Prime Minister and the Defense Minister also took participated. Accepted to the U.S. Military Academy, he graduated on 9 June 1928 with a Second Lieutenant (2LT) commission in the Coast Artillery Corps. Frederick was promoted to Colonel (COL) when the combined U.S.-Canadian FSSF was activated at Fort William Henry Harrison, Montana, on 9 July 1942. Source: MNHS Collections. Hi new member here, nice to meet you all. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1952 - 1957 US Army 5th Regimental Combat Team Patch Inv# K1123 at the best online prices at eBay! Of course, at Anzio, we sometimes ran into some conscripted Poles. The 8th of May is Liberation Day, marking the end of Norways occupation during World War II. Both Monte La Difensa and Monte La Remetanea were captured in darkness 2-3 December 1943. This list identifies Army units that were awarded assault landing credit for the Normandy invasion, 6 and 7 June 1944. Copyright Privacy Information Policy Ticketing Policy. Would love to hear of any remaining nazi fortifications in norway that can be visited. Belgium WWI WWII Prisoners War Labor Valorem Medal palms stars WW1 WW2 1914 1940 1918 1945 Great Belgian Decoration Award King Leopold III Nazi Germany Gestapo Military Medals Orders Badges Decorations Insignia Army Navy Air Force Pilot Wings decals Dracomedals Medals-Orders While not a public holiday, Liberation Day is an official flag day. Liberation Day, known in Norwegian as Frigjringsdagen, is marked every year in Norway on the 8th of May. Also known as the Norwegian Home Front Museum, the museum displays equipment, photos and documents from the war years. Sponsored. Regt and was demobilized at the end of WW I on 4-2-19. $9.99 + $5.00 shipping. The acorn was chosen by the division during World War I to signify strength. "Military Intelligence Service Language School at Fort Snelling: Overview," Minnesota Historical Society. 2nd armored division ww2 rostermary calderon quintanilla 27 februari, 2023 / i list of funerals at luton crematorium / av / i list of funerals at luton crematorium / av After 1944 the fort was the location of the Military Intelligence Service Language School, where Nisei (second-generation) Japanese Americans learned Japanese, Korean, and Chinese language and culture in preparation for overseas service as interpreters, interrogators, and intelligence workers. One of my neighbors passed away. http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lh.html. Cookie policy. FOR SALE! Frederick later commanded the 1st Airborne Task Force in Operation DRAGOON, the invasion of Southern France. Nico Brandeis (1886-1917) was a German soldier who served in the Imperial German Army's Infanterie-Regiment Nr. International Coalition of Sites of Conscience. The motto translates Bold and Brave.. Branch of Service: Army Unit of Service: F Company, 3rd Ranger Battalion; 2nd Company, 1st Regiment, 1st Special Service Force (SSF The Devil's Brigade, The Black Devils, or The Black Devils' Brigade); 474th Infantry Regiment Location of Service: North Africa; Sicily; Salerno, Italy; France; Germany; European Theater Highest Rank: Sergeant Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. USA.gov, The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Unemployment Benefits: What Happens if You Lose Your Job in Norway, Viking Words: The Old Norse Influence on English, Caving in Norway: The Best Places To Go Spelunking. Fortunately, the Japanese had withdrawn. (PDF), "Military Intelligence Service Language School (MISLS).". 482nd Bomb Group 283 . WW2 U.S. Army Military 474th Infantry Regiment Shoulder Patch Insignia Blue. Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is Copyright 2009-2022, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. The motto translates "Bold and Brave.". 99th Infantry Battalion inactivated on 2 November 1945 at Camp Miles Standish, Massachusetts. AA Bde) war eine Luftabwehrformation der britischen Armee whrend des Zweiten Weltkriegs.Sie landete am D-Day und sah Aktionen whrend der gesamten Kampagne in Nordwesteuropa, die Frhwarnung vor Angriffen von V-1-Fliegerbomben gegen Antwerpen im Winter 1944 - 45.. Ursprung. U3052.1(C) Defense Meritorious Service Medal. This is particularly true of the First Special Service Force. There have been two units given the title '74th Infantry Regiment'. World War, 1939-1945 Branch of Service: Army Unit of Service: Company B, 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate), 474th Infantry Regiment Location of Service: Scotland; Bristol, England; Tilff, Belgium; France; Norway; Germany; European Theater Highest Rank: Corporal Dates of Service: 1942-1945 Entrance into Service: Drafted Military Status: Veteran A Silver color and metal enamel device NaNinches in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure, a cross Gules fimbriated Argent, in dexter chief two arrows saltirewise of the like, and in sinister base a fleur-de-lis of the last. MG FREDERICK: Well, Marshall went to England in March of 1942. Inactivated, less the 99th Infantry Battalion, on 16 September 1956 at Fort Devens; concurrently the 99th Infantry Battalion was relieved as an organic element of the 74th Infantry. They were looking east and south. 8 WHEREAS, the First Special Service Force members went on to serve as the 474th Infantry Regiment 9 in Norway through the end of the European Conflict as well as storied units such as the 45th Infantry Division, 10 marching onto Berlin; and 11 WHEREAS, the Camp Rimini War Dog Reception and Training Center was established in late 1942. It was not a good day for the German war effort. (Note the taped 30-round magazines in his M1A1 Thompson for a faster reload) . Location: Modern Military Records LICON, Textual Archives Services Division (NWCTM),National Archives at College Park, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001 PHONE: 301-837-3510, FAX: 301-837-1752, EMAIL: inquire@nara.gov FOR MORE WWII INFORMATION, SEE: The Military Records page in Genealogy. The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 23 August 1954. Several years ago I met a 4th bn Ranger who had been assigned to the Force as a radio operator.I dont recall if he was with HQ oe Service Company or a Regiment. Estate find the family of Lieutenant Jack D Bartingale his personal stuff 3 paper items his personal lighter back 21st Gimlet Infantry Regiment ( The first army unit ) his enamel pun on button as well -his heavy sterling bracelet inscribed on the back -3rd Squadron 3rd Platoon weights 32.3 grams or a little over 1 . When the United States entered World War II in December 1941, Fort Snelling became the induction point for more than 300,000 men and women who joined the armed forces. Thanks for shopping NCHSinc. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. The resistance took the form of military defence and counter-attacks, in part to allow the legitimate government of Norway to evade capture and escape to London. On 3 December 1944 at age thirty-seven MG Frederick took command of the 45th Infantry Division. When the war in Europe ended, MG Frederick was the commander of the 45th Infantry Division in Munich, Germany. MG FREDERICK: I know that the Germans at Monte la Difensa were very fine soldiers. And then at night, we went up and scaled the rest of the way to the top of Monte la Difensa. The first was a World War I unit of the 12th Infantry Division, and the second was a World War II unit formed with US Army personnel and equipment of the inactivating US-Canadian 1st Special Service Force "Devil's Brigade." Military Railway Service soldiers trained with local civilian railroad companies in the operation of the military's railroads, going on to provide valuable logistics service in North Africa and Europe. The 474th Infantry Regiment was formed from hardened Veterans of the Fist Special Service Force. Frederick was promoted to Major General (MG) on 1 August 1944, parachuting into Southern France. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. Major General (MG) Robert T. Frederick organized, trained, and led the combined Canadian-American First Special Service Force (FSSF) during World War II. Five months later, near the village of Menton, France, the FSSF paraded one final time on 5 December 1944, honoring the departure of the Canadians. Frederick was medically retired on 31 March 1952, but presented the FSSF colors to the U.S. Army Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in 1960. Constituted 9 July 1918 in the Regular Army as the 74th Infantry and assigned to the 12th Division. This unit was first designated as the 474th Infantry Regiment, later redesignated as the 74th Infantry Regiment. The 474th Infantry Regiment took part in the liberation of Norway in 1945. Post-WW2. This is a hard patch to find these days. The Force in rubber boats fought strong currents and heavy winds to secure the beach head. Dec 22, 2017. The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 23 August 1954. The 474th had been activated on 6 January 1945 with American personnel from the recently disbanded Canadian-American 1st Special Service Force "Devil's Brigade". These soldiers played an important role after the end of the war during the occupation of Japan. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for US Army 474th infantry Regiment / 74th Regimental Combat Team Patch Inv# K1132 at the best online prices at eBay! And then from Kiska, we came back to the United States and went to Italy, and the first operation in Italy was Monte la Difensa. Shipping 325538490378 We searched the National Archives Catalog and located the World War II Operations Reports, 1940-1948 in the Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1917 - 1985 (Record Group 407) that includes histories, reports, and general orders of the 474th Infantry Regiment during WWII in file INRG-474. Kenneth Vernon Spears 3-2 Photo and info submitted by granddaughter Tanya Benoit John S Staiano from Pacioma CA. The 474th Infantry Regiment was formed after the disbandment of the When World War II ended in 1945, more than 7,800 Minnesotans had lost their lives while serving in the armed forces. 99th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop 831. Free shipping. 75th Composite (Tng) 88th Airborne Bn 99th Infantry Bn 100th Infantry Bn 101st Infantry Bn Gerhard Strom was a member of the 99th. A Digital Collection of Rockford, Illinois History. But I only kept one out of every four American enlisted volunteers. Fan . This patch was used by both the 474th Infantry regiment in WWII and the 74th RCT in the 1950's. It depicts elements of the units from which the 474th IR was formed: Arrow = 1st Special Service Force; black scroll, = rangers; viking ship = 99th Inf Bn. The 99th became the 3rd Battalion of the newly formed 474th Infantry Regiment; other 474th IR battalions formed from men of the disbanded FSSF and Ranger BNs (see below for the 474th IR patch) Moved to Norway to Disarm and DeMob NAZI Units Battalion DeMobilized at Camp Miles Standish on November 2, 1945 Participated in 5 x Campaigns Gilda passed away in 1989. 474th Inf 475th Inf 501st PIR 503rd PIR 509th PIR. Arriving in Naples, Italy on 19 November 1943, Frederick and the Force had to break 15th Panzer Grenadier division defenses on the Winter Line mountainous peaks. Sign up for a new account in our community. This unit earned a campaign streamer for Central Europe. COL Frederick experienced firsthand poor intelligence, inadequate planning, small boats, and unpreparedness and inexperience of the U.S. Army with amphibious operations. Jim Baker Member The fleur-de-lis represents the Regiments European battle honors awarded for service during World War II. And that was where the trouble started, because I noticed that the Germans were not observing the north side of the mountain, because it was such a steep cliff, they didnt expect anyone to come up there. Constituted 11 November 1944 in the Regular Army as the 474th Infantry. MG FREDERICK: Well, the qualities were that they had to be loggers, trappers, woodsmen, miners, forest guides and that sort of stuff. Reproduction WW 2 US Army Guide on 474th Infantry Regiment Company D May have a few chalk marks from tailor, will clean off. Formally disbanded on 6 January 1945, FSSF American veterans became the 474th Infantry Regiment (Separate). Colonel Frederick was wounded three times in Rome. There are several groups of the descendants of those veterans. It is in mint condition. He led the Force into a covered assembly area before launching a night-time assault. His dynamic command style and up front combat leadership is found today throughout Special Forces. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. 1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272, Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States, Statistical Summary of Holdings by Record Group Number, How to File a FOIA Request for Archival Records. Military Intelligence Service Language School students, 1945. 1919 Anul Nou Honors au fost ntlniri de regele George al V la diferite ordine i distincii pentru a recompensa i lucrri bune evidenia de ctre ceteni ai Imperiului Britanic. Born to a doctor and nurse in San Francisco, California, in 1907, Robert Tryon Frederick was the oldest of two children, with a younger sister. 479th Fighter Group 7. (99th Infantry Battalion replaced 3rd Battalion on 25 January 1945.) Blue is the color used for Infantry. Constituted 11 November 1944 in the Regular Army as the 474th Infantry. On 1 February 1942 Frederick became a Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) and impressed Eisenhower with a highly critical fourteen-page analysis of Geoffery N. Pykes Mastery of the Snows paper and proposal for Operation PLOUGH. arrived in Norway 7 Jun 45; ." The remnants of the Ranger battalions had been incorporated into FSSF before the 474th was activated. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. The insignia is based upon the FSSF 'red arrow' badge . We searched National Archives Catalog and located the World War II Operations Reports, 1940-1948 in the Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1917-1985 (Record Group 407) that includes records of the 474th Infantry Regiment during WWII. Organized July 1918 at Camp Devens, Massachusetts. Inactivated, less 99th Infantry Battalion, on 26 October 1945 at Camp Shanks, New York. The 1st Special Service Force was an elite American-Canadian commando unit in World War II, under the command of the United States Fifth Army. Or, is it a tie between the 474th and 99th both having served in Norway? The Hydro-Norsk facility was destroyed by a Norwegian resistance team known as The Heroes of Telemark. Genuine WWII US shoulder patch of the 474th Infantry Regiment, 100% cotton thread. and still others formed the 474th Infantry Regiment, which served with the Third United States Army and performed occupation duty in Norway." It includes all units except for platoons and detachments that were a part of larger organizations and is based on the following War Department and Department of the Army General Orders: WD GO 70, 1945; WD GO 75, 1945; WD GO 116, 1946; DA GO 23, 1947; DA GO 72, 1948; DA GO 6 . The V-42 was rated by the British as a superior close quarters combat blade. 99th Infantry Battalion inactivated on 2 November 1945 at Camp Miles Standish, Massachusetts. 478th Fighter Squadron 353. This patch is fully embroidered with a cut edge. In their off time soldiers at the fort enjoyed dances and socials, swimming pools and golfing, as well as a movie theater and post libraries run by the Red Cross. Store use only: Inside Rack 42, Shelf C Shipping Options: Domestic Flat Rate Priority Mail: Small: $8.00 Medium: $15.50 Large . His military career began at age 14 in a National Guard Cavalry unit, after he lied about his age to enlist. MG FREDERICK: Im not the great General. MG Fredericks command style was characterized by concern for his men, initiative, aggression, innovative tactics, and leading from the front. She remembers the day when they saw the Norwegian flag flying down in the valley. [1] Thank's for any info you can provide me. This unit was first . Double sided machine embroidered Blue cotton. (99th Infantry Battalion replaced 3rd Battalion on 25 January 1945.) patch original WW2 du 474 rgiment d'infanterie US. The patch shows a Ranger scroll as part of there design. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "74th Infantry Regiment (United States)". Within hours Photographed By Erik Brun 3. Attached below a Silver scroll inscribed "AUDAX ET FORTIS" (Bold and Brave) in Blue letters. The combat-tested FSSF was transferred to the European theater, specifically to the Fifth U.S. Army (Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark) in Italy. 2LT Frederick served in a variety of troop assignments before duty with the Civilian Conservation Corps, Oregon, in 1933 won him recognition and praise from his superiors for resourcefulness and initiative. They were created and trained specifically to jump into Norway to destroy the Heavy Water producing Hydro-Norsk facility in Rjukan which the Germans had commandeered after invading and occupying Norway. What Ranger Battalion or Battalion's is the scroll representing if any? The remnants of the Ranger battalions had been incorporated into FSSF before the 474th was activated. The Ranger tie to the 474th goes back to the Italian campaign.When the 4th Rangers were severly depleted in combat many were reassigned as repalcement to the First Special Service Force.In Italy the 1st,3rd and 4th Rangers took heavy combat tolls.The 3rd had a lot of men killed and Captured during the battle for Citerna as well.When the Force disbanded after southern France many of the Parachute qualified men went to various Airborne units,others went with the new 474th when formed(even though the 474th wasnt airborne) and went to Norway.There were former Rangers still in the unit and who had been a part of the unit so the scroll in the patch is more symbolic of the Ranger replacements as is the red spear head to symbolize the 474ths lineage to the Force. Becker, one of the lucky ones, was rolled into the 474th Infantry Regiment with many other FSSF survivors, then fought the rest of the war and occupied Norway afterwards. 474th Infantry Regiment - RPL's Local History 474th Infantry Regiment Veterans Who Have Passed: Bjarne J. Jacobsen January 27, 2020 Andrew Source: Rockford Register Star, Jan. 6, 2020. Ryksopps Profound Mysteries Live in Oslo, Americans in Norway: Facts, Stats & Resources, Ryksopp: Norways Foremost Electronic Music Duo. ORIGINAL CUT-EDGE WW2 474th INFANTRY REGIMENT PATCH, REVERSED COLORS VARIATION. Sir Winston Churchill and Lord Cherwell, Churchills Scientific Advisor, suggested that a unit be formed to go into Norway and destroy the hydroelectric stations, go into the Transylvanian Ops in Italy and destroy the hydroelectric station, go into Romania and destroy the Ploieti oil field. Please let me know if you can help. Forces in the occupation of Austria. Linking the lower and upper posts with the Reception Center was an electric streetcar called the "Fort Snelling Dummy." US Army 474th infantry Regiment / 74th Regimental Combat Team Patch Inv# K1135 $69.85 Buy It Now , $39.03 Shipping , 14-Day Returns, eBay Money Back Guarantee Seller: worldwarpatches (13,759) 100% , Location: Clewiston, Florida, US , Ships to: WORLDWIDE, Item: There have been two units given the title '74th Infantry Regiment'; the first was a World War I unit of the 12th Division, and the second was a World War II unit formed with US Army personnel and equipment of the inactivating US-Canadian 1st Special Service Force "Devil's Brigade". For access to these records, please contact the National Archives at College Park . After Kiska, COL Frederick successfully fought for a combat role in the European theater. Of course, this year's events cannot take place as normal because of the coronavirus restrictions. Inactivated, less the 99th Infantry Battalion, on 16 September 1956 at Fort Devens; concurrently the 99th Infantry Battalion was relieved as an organic element of the 74th Infantry. Frederick reinjured an old wound on his right leg for his eighth Purple Heart. Thanks $39.99. This enabled the Seventh U.S. Army (Lieutenant General Alexander M. Patch) to land safely in southern France during Operation DRAGOON. Activated 6 January 1945 in France with American personnel from the joint Canadian-American 1st Special Service Force. Im not entirely sure what a Moms Panel is, but it sounds like an opportunity to have attention lavished upon you. Blue is the color used for Infantry. This particular regiment of the US Army was created in November 1944 by the amalgamation of elements from the First Special Service Brigade; 1st, 3rd and 4th Ranger Battalions; and the 99th Infantry Battalion (composed of Norwegians and Norwegian-Americans). $19.99 + $5.00 shipping. In May 1945, when the war ended in Europe, the 474th was sent to Norway to disarm the German forces. Per Stanton, World War II Order Of Battle: 6 Jan 45 activated in France with personnel from the 1st Special Service Force with the 99th Infantry Battalion joined as the third battalion on 25 Jan 45; arrived in Norway 7 Jun 45; ". Seymour Mermelstein, from New Jersey, joined the First Special Service Force, composed of American and Canadian soldiers, an all-volunteer unit. Reconstituted 18 July 1941 in the Regular Army. Protecting the southern flank of the Seventh Army as it drove into France, the Force moved diagonally north and east up the Mediterranean coast toward the French-Italian border.