World War II Honoree

Robert Tryon Frederick

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

San Francisco, California

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

CREATED AND TRAINED AN ELITE OUTFIT THAT HE NAMED THE FIRST SPECIAL SERVICE FORCE IN 1942. NOT ONLY WERE THEY PARACHUTISTS AND EXPLOSIVE EXPERTS, BUT THEY WERE HIGHLY TRAINED MOUNTAIN TROOPS. ON DECEMBER 2, 1943, HE LED HIS TROOPS IN A SUCCESSFUL ATTACK AT LA DIFENSA AND MONTE LA REMETANEA IN THE WINTER LINE IN ITALY. ON LA DIFENSA, HE WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS AND WOUNDED TWICE. ON MONTE MAJO, AS A BRAND NEW BRIGADIER GENERAL, HE WAS AWARDED HIS SECOND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS AND AWARDED TWO MORE PURPLE HEARTS. HE WAS AWARDED HIS THIRD DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS FOR LEADING SEVERAL PATROLS AT THE MUSSOLINI CANAL NEAR ANZIO, ITALY IN MARCH 1944. ON JUNE 4, GENERAL FREDERICK LED HIS MEN INTO ROME AND WAS AWARDED HIS FOURTH DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS AND WAS WOUNDED THREE MORE TIMES. SHORTLY THEREAFTER HE WAS PROMOTED TO MAJOR GENERAL AT AGE 37, THE YOUNGEST IN THE WARTIME ARMY.