IIB 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 324 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
MAY 22, 2013 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
Urban Affairs 
AN ACT 
To grant the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the 
First Special Service Force, in recognition of its superior 
service during World War II. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The First Special Service Force (the 
‘‘Force’’), a military unit composed of volunteers 
from the United States and Canada, was activated 
in July 1942 at Fort Harrison near Helena, Mon-
tana. 
(2) The Force was initially intended to target 
military and industrial installations that were sup-
porting the German war effort, including important 
hydroelectric plants, which would severely limit the 
production of strategic materials used by the Axis 
powers. 
(3) From July 1942 through June 1943, volun-
teers of the Force trained in hazardous, arctic condi-
tions in the mountains of western Montana, and in 
the waterways of Camp Bradford, Virginia. 
(4) The combat echelon of the Force totaled 
1,800 soldiers, half from the United States and half 
from Canada. 
(5) The Force also contained a service bat-
talion, composed of 800 members from the United 
States, that provided important support for the com-
bat troops. 
(6) A special bond developed between the Cana-
dian and United States soldiers, who were not seg-
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regated by country, although the commander of the 
Force was a United States colonel. 
(7) The Force was the only unit formed during 
World War II that consisted of troops from Canada 
and the United States. 
(8) In October 1943, the Force went to Italy, 
where it fought in battles south of Cassino, including 
Monte La Difensa and Monte Majo, two mountain 
peaks that were a critical anchor of the German de-
fense line. 
(9) During the night of December 3, 1943, the 
Force ascended to the top of the precipitous face of 
Monte La Difensa, where the Force suffered heavy 
casualties and overcame fierce resistance to overtake 
the German line. 
(10) After the battle for La Difensa, the Force 
continued to fight tough battles at high altitudes, in 
rugged terrain, and in severe weather. 
(11) After battles on the strongly defended 
Italian peaks of Sammucro, Vischiataro, and 
Remetanea, the size of the Force had been reduced 
from 1,800 soldiers to fewer than 500. 
(12) For 4 months in 1944, the Force engaged 
in raids and aggressive patrols at the Anzio Beach-
head. 
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(13) On June 4, 1944, members of the Force 
were among the first Allied troops to liberate Rome. 
(14) After liberating Rome, the Force moved to 
southern Italy and prepared to assist in the libera-
tion of France. 
(15) During the early morning of August 15, 
1944, members of the Force made silent landings on 
Les Iles D’Hyeres, small islands in the Mediterra-
nean Sea along the southern coast of France. 
(16) The Force faced a sustained and withering 
assault from the German garrisons as the Force pro-
gressed from the islands to the Franco-Italian bor-
der. 
(17) After the Allied forces secured the Franco- 
Italian border, the United States Army ordered the 
disbandment of the Force on December 5, 1944, in 
Nice, France. 
(18) During 251 days of combat, the Force suf-
fered 2,314 casualties, or 134 percent of its author-
ized strength, captured thousands of prisoners, won 
5 United States campaign stars and 8 Canadian 
battle honors, and never failed a mission. 
(19) The United States is forever indebted to 
the acts of bravery and selflessness of the troops of 
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the Force, who risked their lives for the cause of 
freedom. 
(20) The efforts of the Force along the seas 
and skies of Europe were critical in repelling the ad-
vance of Nazi Germany and liberating numerous 
communities in France and Italy. 
(21) The bond between the members of the 
Force from the United States and those from Can-
ada has endured over the decades, as the members 
meet every year for a reunion, alternating between 
the United States and Canada. 
(22) The traditions and honors exhibited by the 
Force are carried on by 2 outstanding active units 
of 2 great democracies, the Special Forces of the 
United States and the Canadian Special Operations 
Regiment. 
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 
(a) AWARD
AUTHORIZED.—The Speaker of the 
House of Representatives and the President pro tempore 
of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the 
award, on behalf of the Congress, of a gold medal of ap-
propriate design to the First Special Service Force, collec-
tively, in recognition of their dedicated service during 
World War II. 
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