First Special Service Force
AT WAR

Major General (MG) Robert T. Frederick organized, trained, and led the combined Canadian-American First Special Service Force (FSSF) during World War II. 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. Frederick later commanded the 1st Airborne Task Force in Operation DRAGOON, the invasion of Southern France. In addition to eight Purple Hearts, Frederick’s awards include the Distinguished Service Cross, with Oak Leaf Cluster, and a Silver Star. When the war in Europe ended, MG Frederick was the commander of the 45th Infantry Division in Munich, Germany.

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. His military career began at age 14 in a National Guard Cavalry unit, after he lied about his age to enlist. Accepted to the U.S. Military Academy, he graduated on 9 June 1928 with a Second Lieutenant (2LT) commission in the Coast Artillery Corps. In 1930 he began primary flight school at Brooks Field, San Antonio, Texas, but was dropped from training for failing to meet standards in the air. 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. On 1 July 1934, Frederick was promoted to First Lieutenant (1LT) and selected as Aide-de-Camp for the Commanding General, Ninth Coast Artillery District, Presidio of San Francisco, California.

Major Frederick graduated from the advanced Coast Artillery School in 1938 and the Command and General Staff College in 1939. In 1941, he was assigned from Hawaii to serve under Major General (MG) Dwight D. Eisenhower, War Plans Division, as the U.S. entered World War II. On 1 February 1942 Frederick became a Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) and impressed Eisenhower with a highly critical fourteen-page analysis of Geoffery N. Pyke’s “Mastery of the Snows” paper and proposal for Operation PLOUGH. Pyke advocated using a commando force, trained in winter mountain warfare, to attack German-occupied Norway. 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.

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. Given six months to prepare the FSSF for combat, Frederick, leading by example, initiated airborne training, in low-quarter shoes since his ‘jump boots’ had not arrived. He was also instrumental in procuring nonstandard equipment for the force. This included the lightweight, fast-firing, highly reliable M-41 Johnson light machine gun, (‘Johnny Gun’), the M-29 tracked Cargo Carrier (‘Weasel’), and the Case V-42 Fighting Knife, which he designed and made standard issue for the Force. The V-42 was rated by the British as a superior close quarter’s combat blade.

COL Frederick’s leadership in combat that earned him praise and promotions. He was regarded as one of the most aggressive American leaders in WWII. The FSSF was selected to spearhead the recovery of the Aleutian Islands, starting with Kiska Island 15 August 1943. The Force in rubber boats fought strong currents and heavy winds to secure the beach head. COL Frederick experienced firsthand poor intelligence, inadequate planning, small boats, and unpreparedness and inexperience of the U.S. Army with amphibious operations. Fortunately, the Japanese had withdrawn. However, it was a good learning experience for Frederick and the Force leaders.

After Kiska, COL Frederick successfully fought for a combat role in the European theater. The FSSF was dispatched to Italy where the Fifth U.S. Army, commanded by Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark, was stalemated by the Germans. 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. COL Frederick personally reconnoitered the approach routes and key terrain objectives, minimizing causalities and preserving the element of surprise. He led the Force into a covered assembly area before launching a night-time assault. Both Monte La Difensa and Monte La Remetanea were captured in darkness 2-3 December 1943. His leadership and intrepidity in combat merited promotion to Brigadier General (BG) on 18 January 1944.

On 1 February 1944, the FSSF began their aggressive night patrols against the Hermann Goering Panzer Division outside Anzio. The Force spearheaded the drive to Rome in June, by securing key bridges for the Allied armor advance. Rome was occupied on 4 June 1944. BG Frederick was wounded three times in the capture of the Italian capital.

BG Frederick relinquished command of the Force on 23 June to lead the 1st Allied Airborne Task Force preparing for Operation DRAGOON. Frederick was promoted to Major General (MG) on 1 August 1944, parachuting into Southern France. Frederick reinjured an old wound on his right leg for his eighth Purple Heart. On 3 December 1944 at age thirty-seven MG Frederick took command of the 45th Infantry Division. He was one of the youngest division commanders in the U.S. Army. He led the 45th during the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns, and liberated the death camp at Dachau, before capturing Munich, Germany, prior to V-E Day in Europe.

When MG Frederick returned to the U.S. in August 1945, he commanded the Coast Artillery Corps School, before going overseas again to command U.S. Forces in the occupation of Austria. From Austria, he returned to the U.S. to command the reflagged 4th, (6th Infantry Division), and the Joint U.S. Mission in Greece. 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. He died on 29 November 1970, and is interred in the National Cemetery at the Presidio of San Francisco.

MG Frederick’s command style was characterized by concern for his men, initiative, aggression, innovative tactics, and leading from the front. He received a total of 24 U.S. and 8 foreign awards, including the Distinguished Service Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Silver Star, and Purple Heart with seven Oak Leaf Clusters. His dynamic command style and up front combat leadership is found today throughout Special Forces.

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