|
"Ask A Forcemen"
You can read all of the books, watch all of the documentaries and ask all the experts, and still be wrong. In this article I will attempt to answer various questions about the Force by asking three Veteran Forcemen. They are:
Bill story: Bill is the Executive Director of the F.S.S.F. Veterans Association. An original member of the first Canadian contingent assigned to Fort Wm H. Harrison. Bill served with the Force from beginning to end. He was wounded in Italy, (where his V-42 was stolen at the hospital,) and after disbandment, Bill served with the "First Canadian Parachute Battalion" until the end of the war.
Tom Hope: Tom joined the Force at Fort Wm H, Harrison as a member of the HQ Photo Sec. making the training films. One of his films became the standard training film for all parachute jump training. Before Kiska, Tom went to OCS training after which he was an instructor at and later head of the Army Motion Picture School. Tom entered France on D+3 as a Combat Film Photographer and later was assigned as Photo Officer to VIII Corps, 3rd U.S. Army. Later he was transferred to XIX Corps, 9th U.S. Army. In March 1944 Tom was promoted to Captain and later awarded the Bronze Star for his photo coverage on the end of the war in Europe. Tom Hope and a photo crew where the first U.S. Army personal to enter Berlin, (Unofficially,) 1-day after the final shots were fired, there endeavor almost ended with a Courts Marshall.
Lewis Merrim: Lew entered service at Fore Wm. H. Harrison as a photo Officer and he worked with Tom Hope. Lew was a still cameraman, and most of the photos of the Force were shot by Lew Merrim. After Force training ended the photo section of the Force was deactivated and Lew went to HQ S2 and he was the unofficial Force Photographer for the rest of the war. Lew did all of the Aerial Reconnaissance photo work frying in a L5 Observation Plane using a Speed Graphic camera, he was the only force member to be awarded the "Air Medal;". Lew was wounded at Anzio and he received the "{Purple Heart". When the F.S.S.F. was deactivated, Lew served with the 474th Infantry Regiment in Norway until the end of the war.
THE FOLLOWING QUESTION'S WERE TAKEN FROM THREE INTERVIEWS WITH THE ABOVE FORCE VETERANS.
Q. Did enlisted personal put any kind of insignia on their oversees caps?
A. No, they Officially didn't have anything on their caps, the piping denoted F.S.S.F.
Q. Did Ranger replacement's coming into the Force use 3/4 boots and leggings?
A. Definitely, he also used his M-1928 pack instead of a musette or mountain pack.
Q. Where the paratrooper helmets phased out by the time the Force was in Italy?
A. This is a difficult question. If a soldier already had one, they would not have taken it away. However, all new replacements, unless jump trained would probably have the standard M-1 helmet. I have photos of them with just the M-1 helmet in training as well as the standard football helmet. The M-1C helmet was not available at the time the Force was in existence, so you should use the M-1 or M-2 helmet.
Q. Was the Kiska patch worn on the M-41 and the Four Pocket dress tunic?
A. Most likely not on the M-41, they were used to a limited degree by Forcemen. The Rangers who joined the Force wore them but did not qualify for the Kiska patch. As for the four pocket, this was never done. After the Aleutians, thje first parade they had was after LaDifensa. they didn't wear the dress uniforms then. The Kiska patch faded into oblivion after Kisks. At the final disbandment, they were wearing the Ike Jackets, but no kiska patches.
Q. There are two style of Kiska patches, how were they used?
A. The standare issue embroidered patch was made by the U.S. Government and was worn on the shirt. The printed on fabric patch which was waterproof was worn on the parka and it was made in Canada. All patches were issued at Angel Island.
Q. How can I identify myself as a Canadian in the unit while in combat gear, is there any special insignia I could wear such as Canadian rank chevrons?
A. There was no way to tell a Canadian from an American in combat gear. Maybe our accents, eh? Everyone used U.S. rank insignia except in the early days at Helena. At the disbandment when I had to step forward, the guy next to me whispered the question, "Your Canadian?"
Q. Did any member of the Force carry combat shotguns or "trenchguns"?
A. No, it was never issued and you will not find it on the Quartermaster list.
Q. What color t-shirt was worn for combat?
A. White during training, later most went to brown.
Q. After disbandment did any of the Forcemen go to any of the Airborne units?
A. Yes, all Airborne qualified U.S. Forcemen could go to any Airborne unit they wanted after the Force disbanded. Those not jump qualified were rolled into the 474th Infantry. I know for sure some went to the 17th 82nd and 101, Candians went to the First Canadian Parachute Battalion.
Q. Did the force use the M-28 "tanker" jacket?
A. No - it was not issue. however, it is possible someone who liked it wore it. Some of the Rangers had them.
Q. Did any members of the Force wear the M-42 jump suite?
A. Yes - the 42 jump suite was seen on numerous F.S.S.F. in Southern France. They liked the light weight and would trade the Airborne guys for them. it was not Official issue.
Q. How long is the shoulder cord and what are the specific shade of red and blue?
A. About 22" long. use scarlet red, white and Royal blue.
Q. What are the pins seen in the foliage bands on the helmets in Force pictures?
A. Those pins are the keys that came on the meat cans. You pulled the key off the bottom of the can and hooked it into a tab on the can to open it. The reason the guys stuck them in the bands is that some tins did not have them so you kept extras.
Q. What does the Garrison cap piping look like?
A. When the F.S.S.F. went overseas they couldn't get the Issue stuff so they used a red-white-blue barber pole design made in Italy. the original issue piping had red and blue flecks on a white cord.
Thank you Gentlemen for your time.
There was one thing that each man stated numerous times, "Never, never say never to anything about the Force." As you study the Force you will find that there is a sort of Individual solders in the field would often do whatever they pleased, and in the F.S.S.F. nobody cared. They were a group that was solely interested in getting a job done. If that meant going into combat in their underwear with a baseball bat - they did it!! It is good to try to follow the standard issue, but never discount some odd-ball thing these guys did. And be careful around the Veterans, they can get testy about incorrect insignia. Honor there past and be as correct and honest as you can with your impression
| 
