First Special Service Force, Photos from the NARA

I have posted all of the Signal Corps photos of the FSSF I found at the NARA here:

kerrd5 Gallery - WWII Forums Gallery


Dave

 

I found two more photos of the FSSF,
including this one of a "Nazi superman"

Message - WWII Forums Gallery

which I have added to the gallery.


Dave

 

Thanks, Dave. The one shot of a FSSF standing, dirty and tired, with a cigarette - shows the extreme fatigue.

 

Thanks for sharing, i haven't seen these before.

 

I am in the process of transcribing my father's diary from WW II. He was a member of the 53rd Signal Corps. I am doing my best to decipher the tasks that he performed during each operation. Through July and August of 1943 he was installing something he refers to as a "Zero Board" in Sicily. I have not been able to find this on any lists of military communication equipment. If anyone knows what this might have been I'd be forever grateful!! kleindrrita

 

Welcome to the forums, I hope you find what you are looking for. However, I think you might have posted by mistake in the wrong sub-forum, which makes the likelihood of finding what you want somewhat less. This sub-forum/thread is about photos of the 1st Special Service Force, an American-Canadian light infantry unit. Was your father's Signal Corps unit ever attached to it?

As far as "Zero Boards" are concerned, they appear to this technical ignoramus to be something to do with control of various signal lines. A number of US Army documents from the WWII/Korea era refer to them. See WWII 100th Signal Company | Signal Corps (United States Army) | Division (Military) , Full text of "FM 24-20 Field-Wire Techniques 1956" , and Untitled . I hope that helps.

 

Thank you Terry D for responding to my post! Yes, I'm sure I have put it in the wrong spot! But this was where I found "Signal Corps" in my search of the site. I'm not at all familiar with how to use these forums but I thought it was worth a chance. And low and behold! You popped in with some suggestions!!! Thank you thank you! I will search the sites you suggested ASAP. And I will continue to monitor this forum. I happened on a discussion of Cassino when I first landed in the forum. My Dad was there during that battle, as well as the defeat as Kasserine Pass in North Africa. I am hopeful that some of the posts here will help me round out my understanding of what was going on when dad made some of these entries. Adding context is important to understanding his experience. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction for figure out what zero boards were!

 

Terry D....I hit pay dirt with the FM 24-20 Field Wire manual! Zero Board defined and explained! What a treasure this forum is! Thank you so much!

 

I agree! What a great site this is! I've been noticing the patch you use on your profile, Lou. I have a photo of my father holding up a large plaque with this insignia on it. The plaque was apparently a recognition for meritorious service awarded in May '44 to the 53rd Signal Battalion, which he was a part of. I guess they let the men get their pictures taken with it. I saw a similar photo in "Finding Your Father's War" (Jonathon Gawne). The places your Louis Russo served are also places where my father served with the exception of the Po Valley. My father became ill before getting that far north I believe and was eventually rotated to the states shortly before the war ended. Perhaps their paths crossed in some way. I'm looking forward to learning even more as I read the threads in this form.