Sorry: I Posted this in the wrong area. I think this is the right one

Just a hello, and a little history

Post DR308 on Fri Aug 07, 2009 2:14 pm
Hello all: My name is Gerald Dufresne. My fathers name was Orel "Duke" Dufresne. He was not a member of FSSF, But he did come down to the US from Quebeck in 1942 and joined the US Army. He was sent to North Africa for the invasion there as a truck driver. And a truck driver he stayed. From there he went to sicily for operation Husky. After that, they sent him to Italy. That is where he met up with the FSSF. From what he told me about them, they were the best he had ever seen! And he was very proud to be one of there drivers. The only problem was that almost all the rest of the drivers were scared to death to drive up to their positions to drop off their supplies, and pick up the wounded!! And most of them would not do it!!! He told me he was never so ashamed in his life. And he said that he did his best to get up there and do his job. When he did get up there, he said he took a lot of guff from the forcemen about how chicken-shit the drivers were. He said he told them that he would be back as often as he could, and that they could count on him! He was one of there drivers from Italy, until they were disbanded. And he said he could not be prouder to be attached to them. After that, he was transferred To an air strip and delivered bombs the rest of the war. I have a few pictures of him and his truck following the FSSF into Foggia Italy.

What my father told me about them made a tremendous impact on my life. I joined the Army in 1967, was with the 2/502-Bravo-101st Div in Vietnam until 1969. After that I volunteered for Special Forces and ended up in the 1st Group. Who, as you know, received the colors of the FSSF. My dad was very proud of me as I was of him. I am glad I Found this sight. Thank you for taking the time to read this. --------------- Gerald A. Dufresne

Thank you for your post Gerald!!!

That is some really cool history. I would love to see the picture you mentioned. Please feel free to email it to me or post it on the forum.

Sounds like he would have been a great member of the Force...he was definately a hero.

I will find a few photos and send them to you. And thank you for the compliment for my dad. I don't consider him a hero, He just did his job. If everyone did the job they were supposed to do, We would be unbeatable! That's what made the FSSF such a unit to deal with. They were GREAT fighting men that did there jobs. Like them, I am from an era where you actually had to do some thing extra to earn the name hero. It is a very over used word, and you can blame it on how the Vietnam Vets were treated when we got home. The Government has over used that word to try to make sure Vet's are not treated like that again. But with the man in the white house now, Who knows, it may happen again.
I will get off my soap box now. "FORCEMEN FOREVER!!"------------G. Dufresne

Wouldn't you know it!! I don't remember where the heck I put that photo album!! I have looked all over this darn house. I found a few lose photos with my dad and some canadian "LORRIE" drivers, but not the FOGGIA photo. I will keep looking. I KNOW I still have them here! ---------------G.A. Dufresne

Eric: I am still looking for the photo album. I know I will find it, it is just a matter of time before I find it. ----G.A. Dufresne

Eric: I found the photo albums. I am going to try to take digital pic's of the pictures. If they turn out well, How can I get them to you? A few really good location photo's around Anzio, and Cassino, And Rome. Canadian Lorry drivers, the Motorcycle escorts, and my dads three man crew that he KNEW he could count on to take supplies, and Pick up the wounded from the FSSF and NOT chicken out on the job. Maybe, just Maybe a forceman will remember the trucks or the men. That would be great if they could, but I am not counting on it. I even found a photo of the four of them taken around 1983. Today was the first time I knew that all four of them survived the war. I was VERY happy to see that photo. I will let you know how they turn out. Wish me luck!!--------------G.A. Dufresne

Eric: I have tried 3 times now to take a digital picture of my fathers WW2 pictures. They have not turned out well enough for me to send to you, yet! I will not give up, and I will find away to do it. Please forgive the length of time it is taking, but I promise It will be worth it, as it is a short history of the support the FSSF had in Italy. I have one picture that you will really like. It is a photo of my father with an Italian interpreter that spoke French, and my fathers Italian guide who spoke only Italian. His guide showed him and my fathers other drivers the least shelled route up to the lines of the FSSF. Also, my fathers personal insignia can be clearly seen on the side of his Duce and a half. Maybe a forceman will remember something from that picture. I sure hope so. I will keep trying to get clear pics to send to you, with a small explanation for each, ASAP. Please hang in there. ------------- G. A. Dufresne