More Badassery by the Americans and the Canadians

footfootfoot • Feb 13, 2015 1:03 pm

http://webandtechs.com/2015/02/first-special-service-force-that-that-helped-win-ww-ii-awarded-congressional-gold-medal/

Being highly efficient in wartime combat, the 1st SSF killed 25 enemy soldiers for every Devil’s Brigade team member who was killed in battle. They captured 235 enemy soldiers for every Devil’s Brigade team member that was captured.

They were a team of former forest rangers, game wardens, lumberjacks, northwoodsmen, hunters, prospectors, and explorers. They were activated as the First Special Service Force on July 9, 1942. Lieutenant Colonel Robert T. Frederick was promoted to Colonel and assigned to be the unit’s commanding officer by, would-be U.S. President, General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Gravdigr • Feb 13, 2015 1:44 pm

That's awesome.

The worst is yet to come.

:devil:

orthodoc • Feb 13, 2015 10:28 pm

Good God ... awesome.

sexobon • Feb 13, 2015 11:35 pm

Shoulder patches: Devil's Brigade, Green Beret, SOCOM.

[ATTACH]50389[/ATTACH][ATTACH]50390[/ATTACH][ATTACH]50391[/ATTACH]

regular.joe • Feb 16, 2015 8:30 pm

You SF guys, always thinking that SOCOM is just you. My SOCOM patch doesn't have that long tab.

sexobon • Feb 16, 2015 11:34 pm

:lol:

Just though I'd show how unit lineage, mentioned in the linked article, is reflected in uniform shoulder patches and I used the first images I came across that were roughly the same size (only resized one).

PS: Back when I became SF qualified, there was no SF tab. That came about while I was still in service though. HALO wings; however, didn't happen until after I ETS'd.

regular.joe • Feb 17, 2015 9:42 am

You're an old guy. Thanks for your service. In many respects I don't think you'd recognize the force today. In many you would.

I really like looking into and understanding unit lineage, and the heraldry behind unit patches and crests. Our link to the past, and reminders that we represent more than ourselves. In most of the units I've been in we represent some pretty bad ass dudes and have a lot to uphold and live up to.

And editorial correction: That is a USASOC patch, the red background with the dagger on an arrow head. SOCOM is a Gold Spearhead on a black oval background.

DanaC • Feb 17, 2015 9:47 am

I like unit/regimental histories. British army, but the same applies. i love how ideosyncratic they are, and the way odd stuff will get commemorated in some little way in the uniform, or the nicknames of regiments, and stick for centuries.

xoxoxoBruce • Feb 17, 2015 12:18 pm

regular.joe;922046 wrote:

I really like looking into and understanding unit lineage, and the heraldry behind unit patches and crests. Our link to the past, and reminders that we represent more than ourselves. In most of the units I've been in we represent some pretty bad ass dudes and have a lot to uphold and live up to.

While being careful not to, at least trying not to, inspire the assholes who would start WW III because 8 guys attack a US Base. Yeah guys, go fight the war I started, I'd like to help but my wife said no.

Thanks for being smarter than the average bear, Joe. :notworthy

sexobon • Feb 17, 2015 9:06 pm

regular.joe;922046 wrote:
... And editorial correction: That is a USASOC patch, the red background with the dagger on an arrow head. SOCOM is a Gold Spearhead on a black oval background.

I eventually remembered that; but, realized my mistake too late to edit. Although USSOCOM at MacDill was a fledgling organization during my time, I was familiar with its unit identifiers. USASOC; however, was just after my time. Correct me if I'm wrong; but, I take it that what I originally knew as the John F. Kennedy Center for Military Assistance (USAJFKCMA) and Special Forces Schools, which became the 1st Special Operations Command (1st SOCOM) and the JFK Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS) while I was there, again morphed into the Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) with USAJFKSWCS remaining the same.

I think the 1st SOCOM memory combined with USASOC being unfamiliar led to my mislabeling the image as SOCOM. Conflating [shades of Brian Williams!] 1st SOCOM with USSOCOM is attributable to old age (haven't thought about this stuff for a quarter century).

That's my story and waterboarding won't change it. ;)

regular.joe • Feb 17, 2015 10:08 pm

Yea, actually it's been US Army Special Forces Command (USASFC), nested under USASOC for a long time now. And USAJFKSWCS has remained the same.

Nested under USSOCOM is USASOC, NAVSPECWARCOM, AFSOC, JSOC, and MARSOC.

Speaking of lineage and heraldry, I'm putting together a patch with the insignia from my "unit" in Pakistan, SOC-FWD Pakistan. Can you guess where we traced our lineage to?

Lamplighter • Feb 17, 2015 10:32 pm

sexobon;922082 wrote:
I eventually remembered that; but, realized my mistake too late to edit. Although USSOCOM at MacDill was a fledgling organization during my time, I was familiar with its unit identifiers. USASOC; however, was just after my time. Correct me if I'm wrong; but, I take it that what I originally knew as the John F. Kennedy Center for Military Assistance (USAJFKCMA) and Special Forces Schools, which became the 1st Special Operations Command (1st SOCOM) and the JFK Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS) while I was there, again morphed into the Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) with USAJFKSWCS remaining the same.

I think the 1st SOCOM memory combined with USASOC being unfamiliar led to my mislabeling the image as SOCOM. Conflating [shades of Brian Williams!] 1st SOCOM with USSOCOM is attributable to old age (haven't thought about this stuff for a quarter century).

That's my story and waterboarding won't change it. ;)

You haven't yet met Penny...

[YOUTUBE]aNmVy-FnAJ8[/YOUTUBE]

sexobon • Feb 17, 2015 10:49 pm

regular.joe;922085 wrote:
... Can you guess where we traced our lineage to?

The arrowhead and sword are a dead giveaway ... Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men.

Is that the Sheriff of Nottingham with the beard?

regular.joe • Feb 17, 2015 11:12 pm

LOL, that's us.

Gravdigr • Feb 18, 2015 3:46 pm

Robin Hood and Little John, walking through the forest,
Laughing back and forth at what the other one has to say,
Reminiscing this and that and having such a good time,
Oo-de-lolly, oo-de-lolly, golly, what a day!