PATCH, MILITARY

Description: A CIRCLE OF DENIM FABRIC. ON FRONT, BACKGROUND COLOR IS BLUE. THERE IS A GREY BORDER AROUND PERIMETER. IN CENTER IS THE IMAGE OF A BLACK HANDLED FIGHTING KNIFE. BACK OF PATCH IS STAINED.

History: THE DONOR OF THIS ARTIFACT, JOHN LLOYD KNIGHT, SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE FIRST SPECIAL SERVICE FORCE (ALSO KNOWN AS THE DEVILS BRIGADE) DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. THE KISKA TASK FORCE, COMPRISED OF MEMBERS OF THE FSSF, WAS CALLED INTO ACTION FOR OPERATION ‘COTTAGE’ – THE INVASION OF KISKA ISLAND IN THE ALEUTIANS ON JUNE 9, 1943. THE ISLAND WAS THE JAPANESE FORCE’S LAST HOLD-OUT IN NORTH AMERICA. THE INVASION COMMENCED ON 15 AUGUST, 1943, BUT UPON LANDING MEMBERS OF AMPHIBIOUS (KISKA) TASK FORCE 9, INCLUDING THE FSSF, DISCOVERED THAT THE JAPANESE EVACUATED THE ISLAND THREE DAYS BEFOREHAND UNDER THE COVER OF BAD WEATHER. DESPITE THE INVASION’S ANTICLIMACTIC END, THE EVENT WAS A SUPERB TRAINING EXERCISE FOR THE FSSF. SEE RECORD P20000036001-GA FOR DONOR BIOGRAPHY AND BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FIRST SPECIAL SERVICE FORCE.