Island veterans of the Devil's Brigade awarded U.S. Bronze Star Medal JIM DAY The Guardian
Two Island veterans of the Second World War who served with the fearsome Devil’s Brigade have been awarded the prestigious U.S. Bronze Star Medal.
Lawrence (Junior) Durant of Charlottetown and his cousin Ray Durant, who now lives in Ottawa, can add the bronze star to their impressive list of military accolades.
The medal is awarded to those who distinguished themselves while serving with the U.S. Army by “heroic or meritorious achievement or service . . . in connection with military operations against an armed enemy.’’
Both of the Durants volunteered at the same time with the First Special Service Force (FSSF) — the joint Canadian-American commando unit better known as the Devil’s Brigade.
The one-of-a-kind military unit was perhaps most noted for conducting silent night raids on the German lines, their faces smeared with black boot paste, leaving casualties in their wake and a special calling card that read, in German: “The worst is yet to come.’’
The FSSF was known for special training that included parachuting, skiing and mountain climbing, as well as conducting extreme marches with immensely heavy packs on their backs.
But for the reinforcements who volunteered later, like Ray and Junior Durant, this commando skills list was considerably shorter.
Junior Durant, in an interview with The Guardian last year, noted he wished he had special training when he saw battle at Anzio beachhead in Italy, where he came under heavy shelling.
Every night, he and others in the Devil’s Brigade were behind enemy lines, taking part in covert operations.
“All our work in Anzio was behind German lines, every night we were in behind German lines, every night,’’ said Junior.
“It was scary, I tell ya.’’
The U.S. Bronze Star Medal has arrived in time for Junior to add to his uniform for Remembrance Day ceremonies along with his 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, France/Germany Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and the Defence Medal.
“I feel great about getting it,’’ Junior told The Guardian Friday.
Ray Durant, 86, a native of Summerside who now lives in Ottawa, said he was very proud and very honoured to receive the Bronze Star Medal.
He called the distinction one of the high points of his life.
Junior, who turns 85 in December, was a 19-year-old farm labourer in Wilmot Valley when he signed up as an infantryman in May 1943.
He was in a holding camp in Avellino, Italy, in 1944 when he volunteered for the FSSF.
Ray was coincidentally there at the same time and also joined up. Junior was posted with 4th company, 2nd regiment and his cousin, Ray, with 3rd company, 3rd regiment.
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Robby McRobb from Tryon / Albany, PEI writes: Congratulations Gentlemen. I salute you for your heroic efforts on behalf of Canada. Thankyou
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