By David Miller.
Members of Special Forces Association Chapter LX gathered on December 4, 2025 for an evening of remembrance, gratitude, and fellowship during the annual Menton Day Celebration. Hosted at the Team House Tampa, the event brought together U.S. Army Special Forces veterans, Canadian partners, and members of the community to honor the deactivation of the 1st Special Service Force (FSSF) on December 5, 1944, in Menton, France.
But Menton Day is far more than a commemoration of a date. It is a recognition of a fighting formation whose courage, ingenuity, and sacrifice fundamentally reshaped the concept of special operations and laid the foundation for the modern Green Beret and Canadian SOF heritage.
Formed in 1942 as a binational U.S.–Canadian force, the 1st Special Service Force, soon nicknamed the Devil’s Brigade by German troops, was tasked with missions no other unit had the training or audacity to attempt. Operating in extreme environments, advancing against fortified mountain defenses, and conducting relentless night raids, the FSSF repeatedly succeeded where conventional forces could not.
Their legendary assault on Monte La Difensa, scaling sheer cliffs under darkness to seize a position considered unassailable, demonstrated a fusion of endurance, tactical innovation, and fearlessness that stunned Allied commanders. At Anzio, their aggressive patrolling and silent infiltration of enemy lines instilled such fear that German soldiers referred to them as “Die Schwarzen Teufel”—The Black Devils.
Their sacrifices were enormous. By the end of their European campaign, nearly every member of the unit had been killed or wounded. Yet their impact was even greater: they proved the effectiveness of small, highly trained, joint special operations teams, decades before the modern term “special forces” existed. Their example did not simply influence military thinking; it transformed it.
The Devil’s Brigade became the prototype for modern special forces in both the United States and Canada. Their seamless binational integration set the early standard for today’s allied SOF partnerships, while their independence as small teams operating behind enemy lines foreshadowed the 12-man ODA structure used by Green Berets today. Their demanding training in demolitions, mountaineering, amphibious operations, winter warfare, and close combat shaped the broad skillset now expected of Special Forces soldiers. And their unconventional tactics, night infiltration, surprise assaults, and psychological operations such as their famous calling card, laid the foundation for what is recognized as modern unconventional warfare.
Together, these innovations formed the blueprint from which contemporary U.S. and Canadian Special Forces evolved. So much so that today’s U.S. Army Special Forces crest bears the V-42 stiletto knife issued to the FSSF, a daily reminder that the lineage and ethos of the Devil’s Brigade continue in the hands of every Green Beret and Canadian SOF operator.
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In keeping with longstanding tradition, members of Chapter LX Special Forces Association wore their berets, carried a knife of choice, and brought the iconic canteen cup, symbols of field service, shared hardship, and the brotherhood that defines the Special Forces community. These traditions remind today’s warriors that Special Forces heritage is not only recorded in history books. It is lived and passed from one generation to the next.
Lt. Gen. (Ret.) John Deedrick and COL Steve Day, a representative of the Canadian military, stand with the Special Forces Association Chapter LX members in a group photograph and share a moment of camaraderie during the annual Menton Day Celebration in Tampa, Florida. The event honors the historic partnership of the 1st Special Service Force and the enduring bond between U.S. and Canadian Special Forces veterans.
The guest speaker for the evening was Lieutenant General (Retired) John Deedrick. He served across multiple commands in the 1st and 10th Special Forces Groups, during which he served combat tours in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and the Philippines. LTG Deedrick’s last three assignments were: U.S. Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee, Commander Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan, and Commander, 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne). His career reflects a deep commitment to building capable teams, advancing partnerships, and preparing Special Operations Forces for the future.
During his remarks he emphasized that the FSSF did more than win battles, they established a standard of excellence, resilience, and unity that continues to guide today’s Special Forces. He noted that every instance of courage under pressure, every act of integrity in adversity, and every demonstration of faithfulness to mission and teammates reflects the spirit of the FSSF.
He reminded everyone that Menton Day is not simply a ceremony. It is a reaffirmation that the sacrifices of the Devil’s Brigade, those who climbed the unclimbable, endured the unendurable, and fought the unwinnable, live on through the men and women who carry the torch of Special Operations today. The FSSF proved what elite, disciplined, and united warriors can achieve. Their descendants in U.S. and Canadian Special Forces honor that legacy each time they step forward to confront the impossible.
He concluded by urging the Special Forces community to continue building bridges of mentorship, partnership, and trust, core values that have characterized the SOF profession since the Devil’s Brigade first formed.
The celebration concluded with fellowship and shared memories, moments that bridge generations of warriors who understand that service continues long after the uniform comes off, and the Special Forces Association Team House in Tampa stands as a testament to that enduring bond. Open to all veterans Wednesday through Sunday from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM, it offers a place where camaraderie, support, and community remain strong, ensuring that the spirit of brotherhood forged in service continues to thrive.
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Chapter LX of the Special Forces Association is located in Tampa, Florida.