My dad was one of the First Special Service Forces 1,200 Canadian & American men. For a long time, he held the so-called and apparently "exclusive" rights to any book, TV series or movie that was to be made about them, and my family moved from New York City (where I was born) to San Francisco specifically in order that my dad was close enough to personally interview his war-time commander, Maj. Gen. Frederick, for his book.
I remember visiting the general's home on El Camino Del Mar Street (in the Seacliff District) in the very early 1960s, in San Francisco, and meeting him. As a result of being so young at the time, the only thing I recall of one single visit is that I was surprised that he could fix something with a needle and thread, in his living room, when I needed it done during our visit... and I remember particularly his answer that people who live in remote places, such as army destinations, have to learn a lot of skills. Apparently, he did learn an awful lot of skills!
My dad eventually realised that some form of a writer's block, and / or (perhaps) his laziness, in general, forced him to lose those exclusive rights and "Devil's Brigade" as well as other major releases (both book and movie) occurred, without him. I attended a screening of whatever movie it was that came out in 1968, with my dad, and he said to another former Forces guy whom he met in the lobby that the story was not the way it really had been! They both agreed on that, and despite my being only 13.5 years old at the time, I remember it well.
I have my late father's copy of a book about his war-time unit, written by a guy named Burhans, who was also in the unit, and complete with many photos. In that book, Frederick is mentioned as having been accidentally slapped on the back, by an enlisted man, because the latter didn't expect the heavily-clothed guy who was with him, on the front, to be Frederick (who hadn't yet been promoted) since Frederick was the unit's overall commander. I also recall a story in that same book about Frederick getting wounded, mildly, during combat in Italy, and also another story about his getting impatient for news about Rome being taken or not, so he got into a jeep and was driven into the city, but theyu got ambushed, and his driver was actually killed...
I also have inherited my dad's archives of his own pre-activity research, when he had planned to write the book. Among these materials are the typed-up versions of Major General Robert T. Frederick's daily diary during the time when he was assembling the force and attempting to deal with the myriad problems connected with suddenly activating a brand-new armed forces entity. It's truly fascinating reading. I hope to donate this material to an archives, somewhere, soon.
Paul Kerston