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Offered here is a WWII perioddocument from the estate of WWII war hero Col. Robert S. Moore of the First Special Service Force.
Pointers For Infantry Troop Leaders Oct 1, 1940. Softcover, with illustrations, printed by the Boyd Printing Company Dallas TX.
This was the personal copy belonging to Lt. Col. Robert S. Moore. At this point in his career, Oct 1, 1940, he was a First Lieutenant two years Prior to his time in the FSSF. 1st Lt. Moore stamped his name and unit with an ink stamp on several pages of the booklet.
Col. Moore received a direct commission in the
USAR June 1, 1940, from Wofford College. He
entered the Regular Army in July 1940 under
the Thomason Act. He served in the 29th
Infantry Regiment, Fort Benning, 1940-1942 as
a platoon leader and company commander. He
was promoted to 1Lt. on November 1, 1941.
I should mention the two pages with images of FSSF officers are scans from the Robert D. Burhans book Titled "The First Special Service Force" "A Canadian/American Wartime Alliance: The Devil's Brigade."
They are digital images and are not included as a part of this sale. They are presented only as an object of interest which is related to the item being offered.
If you are interested some of hisstories, and that of the FSSF follows.
The First Special Service Force, (FSSF) was an elite American-Canadian commando unit in World War II, under command of the United States Fifth Army
This listing contains personal copies of US Army handbooks and other documents which belonged to Col. Robert Simeon Moore. At the age of 25, Col. Moore was one of the youngest regimental commanders of World War II, commanding the 2nd Regiment of The First Special Service Force, FSSF, at La Difensa, for which he was awarded the Silver Star, Garigliana / Rapido operations, Anzio Beachhead operations and the invasion of Southern France. The FSSF was also known as the “Devils Brigade” and “The Black Devils.” The unit would acquire their nickname during that 99-day standoff with the Germans on the Anzio Beachhead. The soldiers would blacken their faces with cork and boot polish before sneaking up on the enemy. Allegedly, a German officer’s diary was discovered in which he had written of a group of “black devils” who “kill in the dark of night” without being seen nor heard. The tactics used by the brigade would rattle the enemy so much so that the “devils” nickname became synonymous with any of the soldiers attached to the FSSF.
The brigade fought some of the deadliest missions in the Second World War, many of which were deemed to be “suicide missions.” Despite losing many men, they never lost nor retreated from any of the 22 missions they were a part of while fighting in the difficult mountain terrains in Italy and Southern France, as well as 99 days on the Anzio Beachhead without relief.
The First Special Service Force has been the subject many books and movies. Col. Moore was not fond of the Movie “The Devils Brigade” starring William Holden. The movie depicted US Army soldiers picked as members of the force as misfits and losers. Col. Moore said there were no Misfits anywhere in The First Special Service Force.
Awards and decorations Col. Moore received during his career include;
Two Legions of Merit;
The Silver Star; the Bronze Star Medal;
The Army Commendation Medal; the Purple Heart;
The French Croix de Guerre with Palm;
and the Norwegian Haakon VII Cross of Liberation
Surviving members of the FSSF were recently awarded the United States Congressional Gold Medal, the country’s highest civilian honor.
The FSSF was the precursor to the Navy Seals and The Army Special Forces (The Green Berets.)
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