William Bill Story 1ST SPECIAL SERVICE FORCE Signed, FSSF Aleutians Italy France For Sale

DESCRIPTION: this is a two-item set, including a genuine hand-signed signature on a 3x5 card, and a 4x6 photo. The card shows the insignia of the elite First Special Service Force and was signed by William Philliskirk Steer "Bill" Story, a Canadian member of the FSSF in WWII. The photo shows him as a sergeant in his Canadian Army uniform. He signed it in blue ink "Lieut Bill Story Platoon Comdr 4-2 FSSF." All of my autographed items are 100% legitimate, I do not sell reprints or facsimile autographs.
HISTORY: Bill Story was from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and was born on June 6, 1921. During World War II, he was a sergeant in the Canadian Army. On July 9, 1942 the FSSF began forming and used the Fort William Henry Harrison in Montana as its primary training location. The all-volunteer Canadian and American unit would train as paratroopers, ski troops and mountain troops, as well as in amphibious landings and demolitions. Sergeant Story volunteered for the new unit and was accepted. He served in its campaigns in the Aleutians and Italy in 1943, and Anzio and France in 1944. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant and served in several different companies and regiments within the Force. Though the FSSF numbered only about 2,100 men (about the size of a single regiment), they inflicted losses on the enemy all of proportion to their own number, It is believed they killed or wounded about 12,000 German soldiers and captured some 7,000 prisoners. Then due to casualties and political issues in Canada concerning where their troops should be used, the unit was disbanded in France and the survivors were transferred to other outfits such as Canadian airborne and US Army Rangers.
He had earned the US Bronze Star medal for the fierce combat of the Italian Campaign, and the following awards from the US, Canada and France: (1) Canada 1939-45 Star, (2) Pacific Star, (3) Italy Star, (4) France-Germany Star, (5) Canadian Volunteer Star with clasp, (6) King George VI Medal, (7) Canadian Federation Medal, (8) Queen of Canada Medal, (9) Liberation of France Medal and (10) French Medal with Bar for assisting the 1st French Army in its attack on Monte Cassino. After the war, Mr. Story moved to the United States and had dual citizenship in both America and Canada. He was instrumental in forming the First Special Service Force veterans association and served as its executive director for many years. Later he was its "executive director emeritus" and he is mentioned in several FSSF books. In 2015, the US Congress awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to the surviving members of the FSSF. Mr. Story passed away in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina on January 5, 2016.
MILITARY AUTOGRAPHS: I'm not a dealer, I'm a collector. I'm a Marine Corps veteran/retired police officer/former military contractor in Afghanistan and other countries, and I donate part of the proceeds of my Ebay sales to "Tunnel 2 Towers." I began collecting because I'm also the author of books on the Marine Paratroopers and Raiders of World War II. I met or corresponded with about 700 WWII veterans to do research, starting in the 1980s. Then in the 2000s, I began mailing cards and photos to some of them, and to men from other branches and units. They signed them and mailed them back to me, so I was not present at the signing, and there is no Certificate of Authenticity. Most of these veterans are now deceased, and in many cases I'm the only collector who got autographs from them.
PAYMENT & SHIPPING: please pay by Paypal within three days. Shipping is free and is by "USPS Ground Advantage" in the US Postal Service. All items will be shipped within three days of your payment. The item (or items) will be inside a plastic holder, and will be shipped in either a cardboard mailer or padded mailer for protection. If you buy multiple items, I will adjust the shipping cost. Returns are allowed within 14 days. Thank you.