If you've never heard of these folks read this! These were some bad dudes! I first read about them in the January 2000 WWII magazine and stumbled across the article again on-line yesterday. It mentions that their combat debut was with the 36th ID so I immediately thought of you, Rocky. Do you or anyone else remember what you thought of them at the time? I'd be interested to hear what you thought.
In other news, I signed up for my next on-line class for my WWII masters program. It will be WWII in the Pacific and starts in February. So I might I might have some interesting history to add to the conversation as I do my reading. The book I'm reading right now, Ghosts of Iwo Jima, is great. More to come later. . .
If you've never heard of these folks read this! These were some bad dudes! I first read about them in the January 2000 WWII magazine and stumbled across the article again on-line yesterday. It mentions that their combat debut was with the 36th ID so I immediately thought of you, Rocky. Do you or anyone else remember what you thought of them at the time? I'd be interested to hear what you thought.
In other news, I signed up for my next on-line class for my WWII masters program. It will be WWII in the Pacific and starts in February. So I might I might have some interesting history to add to the conversation as I do my reading. The book I'm reading right now, Ghosts of Iwo Jima, is great. More to come later. . .
Capt.O--No I didn't hear that the 36th had any special forces. Only two things WE
heard was. That they made the initial landing at Salerno and the 151st. Field Artillery
from the 34th divn. was attached to them. and that you can find in the book I mentioned.
The other was when a Regt. of the 36th. crossed the Rapido River. The Krauts saw
them crossing from atop a mtn. When most of the Regt. crossed they opened fire.
Damn near took all the Regt. We later heard that an officer of the 36th went across
with a white flag and and a Kraut officer came down and made a truce so all wounded
and KIAS' could be taken care of. Kraut medics came down to help.
This is what we heard. We had our own troubles. Rocky
Roque J.(Rocky) Riojas
Great story. 
I was aware of the 1st Special Forces and have come across them many times while reading WWII articles, etc. and in my own personal research over the years.
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company
ROGER--ROGER----M-1 the rock
Roque J.(Rocky) Riojas
ROGER--ROGER----M-1 the rock
Rocky, did you ever come across a group of 'carpetbaggers' called 'POPSKIS PRIVATE ARMY'
during your Italian battles ?
A Moose no longer alone in the Wolverine State.
Rocky, did you ever come across a group of 'carpetbaggers' called 'POPSKIS PRIVATE ARMY'during your Italian battles ?
Sorry Moose; Not even when we HAD a chance to read the "Stars and Stripes",
POPSKIS--sounds like maybe the 10th Mountain Divn. They were on our
right flank in the mountains, All we knew was--Krauts up ahead.
By the way,-------- Sgtleo--What the hell is a carpetbagger !!! Roque(Rocky)
Roque J.(Rocky) Riojas
Sorry Moose; Not even when we HAD a chance to read the "Stars and Stripes",POPSKIS--sounds like maybe the 10th Mountain Divn. They were on our
right flank in the mountains, All we knew was--Krauts up ahead.
By the way,-------- Sgtleo--What the hell is a carpetbagger !!! Roque(Rocky)
Rocky,
There's not an awful lot I know about these guys, but the CO Major Vladimir Peniakoff ( Popski ), noone could pronounce
his surname, hence ' Popskis Army', founded this special unit that drifted between the British and American command in Italy.
Dropped by RAF gliders into central Italy blowing up most things German then moving on into the mountains of Southern Italy.
Perhaps the lovely Marion 
could find one of her famous links about these guys. I was trying to be polite with the carpetbagger
tag because if there were no Germans to fight they would hurt each other !
A Moose no longer alone in the Wolverine State.
WELL MOOSE-- I AM FINDING THINGS I DIDN'T KNOW, THINGS THAT HAPPENED ??
63-64 years ago. The34th was in the central of Italy along the North Appenines
and I sure didn't know anything about gliders there. Only thing I saw fly around
were Piper Cubs, Artillery spotters, directing artillery fire. Carpetbaggers,what did
they do, make bags out of carpets?????? 
Rocky
Roque J.(Rocky) Riojas
WELL MOOSE-- I AM FINDING THINGS I DIDN'T KNOW, THINGS THAT HAPPENED ??63-64 years ago. The34th was in the central of Italy along the North Appenines
and I sure didn't know anything about gliders there. Only thing I saw fly around
were Piper Cubs, Artillery spotters, directing artillery fire. Carpetbaggers,what did
they do, make bags out of carpets??????
Rocky
Rocky, you have me by my 'plums', don't squeeze too hard. Where as the carpetbaggers took advantage of people after the US Civil War, Popskis guys just bumped them ( Germans ) off !!
A Moose no longer alone in the Wolverine State.
Moose: I just reread your initial input. It didn't register that you said
British gliders. Hell, all that was in the British sectors so there would
be no way we would know. Plums !!! If I grabbed them with one hand
I would have a knife in the other. Have you ever tasted Mountain Oysters?
Ketchmelater. Your'e OK Rocky
Roque J.(Rocky) Riojas
If you've never heard of these folks read this! These were some bad dudes! I first read about them in the January 2000 WWII magazine and stumbled across the article again on-line yesterday. It mentions that their combat debut was with the 36th ID so I immediately thought of you, Rocky. Do you or anyone else remember what you thought of them at the time? I'd be interested to hear what you thought.
I have been wondering for awhile whether my wifes Uncle transferred to FSSF after hisRanger Batallion was wiped out. He mentioned to my wife that he had fought with Canadians. Maybe I should look up FSSF rosters.
The 36th Combat Eng. Regt Relieved the FSSF after the Anzio breakout. This was one of their times that they weren't doing much "Engineering" and was at Mt. Arrestimo.
I think there was a movie made about the FSSF
Chris
Son of Francis "Combat" Stephens- Co. C 36th Combat Engineer Regiment
Chris, the movie about the FSSF was "The Devil`s Brigade" , i think it starred William Holden & Claude Atkins.
'POPSKIS PRIVATE ARMY' was sort of a commanndo unit of the British army, formed in North Africa & did long range patrols, demolition, & ambushes behind enemy lines.
Popskis Private Army, PPA Preservation Society
Larry
"I'm proud to be an American, Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died, Who gave that right to me."
God bless the USA - Lee Greenwood
Chris, the movie about the FSSF was "The Devil`s Brigade" , i think it starred William Holden & Claude Atkins.
'POPSKIS PRIVATE ARMY' was sort of a commanndo unit of the British army, formed in North Africa & did long range patrols, demolition, & ambushes behind enemy lines.
Captain, Sir many thanks for the above links.
Moose.
A Moose no longer alone in the Wolverine State.
NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN SOMETHING RJR
Roque J.(Rocky) Riojas
Chris, the movie about the FSSF was "The Devil`s Brigade" , i think it starred William Holden & Claude Atkins.
'POPSKIS PRIVATE ARMY' was sort of a commanndo unit of the British army, formed in North Africa & did long range patrols, demolition, & ambushes behind enemy lines.
A Moose no longer alone in the Wolverine State.
