Black Devil Brigade: The True Story of the First Special Service Force in World War II

They were the shock troops of the American Army. In their ranks were lumberjacks, miners, skiers—men from the United States and Canada, accustomed to hardship and living on their own. Their training was extraordinary: forced marches of 100 miles in the Montana wilderness with 50-pound backpacks was typical. Weapons training was equally rigorous and the men became as dangerous with their hands and a knife as they were with rifle and machine gun. In Italy they became the unit called to accomplish the impossible. At Monte Cassino, and at Anzio, they earned the respectful accolade from their German enemies. In this book, the men of the First Special Service Force tell the full story of their unit, regarded as the parent of the Green Berets.