Document Created: 22 August 2007
Air & Space Power Journal Fall 2007
A Perfect Hell: The True Story of the Black Devils, the Forefathers of the Special Forces by John Nadler. Presidio Press (Random House Publishing Group) (http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg), 1745 Broadway, 18th floor, New York, New York 10019, 2006, 416 pages, $15.95 (trade paperback); 2007, 384 pages, $7.99 (softcover).
Special forces—again? In the 1960s, few people knew about the training and employment of a certain group of American soldiers in what has today become known as “black ops.” Today, it is fashionable and often desirable for military and civil leaders to have special-operations experience in their records, whereas decades ago, it could have ended careers. But in the days before such formal organizations existed, one group of warriors was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice; as is often the case, they came from varied backgrounds and had diverse expertise. In A Perfect Hell, John Nadler writes about the First Special Service Force (FSSF)—the “Black Devils.” Imagine a group of rogues, prizefighters, farmers, professional soldiers, and so forth, from several Allied countries thrown into the hinterlands of Montana, and you have the makings of a multinational commando team.
This was a force to be reckoned with, one that lost more than 2,777 men to death and injury over time. Such a close-knit group of special young men would not willingly tell their story to outsiders, much less attend reunions or ceremonies honoring their own. That Nadler was able to create this book shows that he possesses a rare talent for persuading such heroes to open up and allow the rest of us to have the honor of knowing their story.
More than a compilation of historical facts and figures, this book allows us to sit down with the survivors and hear their own words. Although not a special operator or warrior like the men in the FSSF, Nadler, who has found himself in harm’s way, has managed to re-create their blood, sweat, and tears. These men, all of them handpicked volunteers, only knew that their country wanted single men to serve in a “suicide unit.” Thousands responded. By doing so, they created a permanent place for themselves in military history, achieving a kind of immortality.
When the Black Devils descended upon Helena, Montana, the local populace saw them as both items of interest and, over time, as native sons. When they departed for the war, they took with them fond memories and left families behind—many of them never again to see their wives or children, some unborn.
The FSSF saw its first combat action on Monte la Difensa, a military objective that had thwarted the entire US Fifth Army. This first mission, including no more than 600 men, involved taking the high ground—literally. Before relating the battle, Nadler explores the high-level studies proposed by Churchill and other Allied leaders that called for commando forces to confront the conventional forces the Allies would face during the liberation of Europe. Nadler incorporates the thoughts and words of the FSSF members whose lives were affected by the decisions of the supreme powers. Using a myriad of war stories, facts, and maps, the author tells the story well.
Nadler has created a book that should be required reading in the service academies and noncommissioned officer schools, regardless of service branch. Why? Because joint service operations have become the norm. A rarity among the “been there, done that” genre of books, A Perfect Hell has pictures that, by themselves, make it worthwhile. They show a side not often seen in commando stories—the faces of the men who were there and the conditions under which they lived. We see the spirit and souls of those brave few who led the way. A very readable book with no discernable historical flaws, A Perfect Hell has my highest recommendation.
Jim McClain
Cape Coral, Florida
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