September 1, 1944: Sgt. Tommy Prince of the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation carries out one of his most daring actions yet. A year after the Kiska landings, Prince and the joint US-Canadian First Special Service Force (FSSF, aka the Devil’s Brigade) are now on the other side of the globe, having landed in southern France as part of Operation Dragoon.
That day, Prince and his reconnaissance partner trekked 24 kilometres behind enemy lines with the aim of scoping out German outposts, gun emplacements, and camps. On their way back through the mountainous terrain, they came across a squad of Free French Partisans (FFP) that were being surrounded by a German platoon.
The math certainly didn’t favour the Partisans, who were probably outnumbered three or four to one. It’s difficult to see how a mere two men could change these odds.
But that didn’t stop Prince and his private. Taking up sniping positions, the two of them started picking away at the Germans, with Prince killing six and injuring more. Shocked by the sudden and high casualties all around him, the German commander called for his troops to retreat, leaving behind the FFP.
After greeting the Partisan leader, Prince was asked where the rest of his troops were. He replied, “Here,” pointing at his partner. The French officer was shocked: “Mon Dieu! I thought there were at least fifty of you!”
Two days later, Prince and the group returned to the US-Canadian lines and successfully delivered the gathered intelligence to their command. Walking some 80 kilometres over the last five days, he was credited with ensuring the smooth advance of the Devil’s Brigade on September 5. For this deed, Prince was awarded the US Silver Star. Combined with his reception of the Military Medal, this put him in the elite company of only two other Canadians.
Highlighting the disparity between Aboriginal Peoples and non-Aboriginal people in Canada, Prince’s post-war veteran’s benefits were far from the same standard provided to the latter. Much as Corporal Pegahmagabow of the previous generation, he encountered significant difficulties in trying to carve out a role for himself in civilian life. Although he ran a successful cleaning company for a short time, he realized this was a poor position from which to advocate for greater Native Canadian respect in the country.
But before much could be done in that regard, the Korean War began and the call to arms once again attracted Prince, who immediately joined the newly-raised 2 PPCLI (Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry). Although he performed and led magnificently, including at the Battle of Kap’yong, a severe case of arthritis in his knee resulted in him being sent home to carry out training duties. Hardly content with this role, he loudly and frequently complained about wanting to go straight back into battle. He soon got his wish, joining the 3 PPCLI in October 1952. But battle exhaustion accumulated since the Second World War put him out of action once more and he was discharged back to Canada.
Though never formally diagnosed with it, he definitely exhibited signs of PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder). In the 1950s there were no attempts at addressing this issue. Regardless of his service to Canada, he faced constant discrimination from non-Aboriginals at the workplace. He died in 1977 at the Deer Lodge Hospital for Veterans.
May his service and sacrifice never be forgotten.
Cover photo: Sergeant Tommy Prince and company receiving direction from their commander, March 21 1951 (credit: OttawaCitizen.com).
Re-printed here with the permission of Valour Canada as part of a collaboration between JMS and Valour Canada. To see more articles like this one, check out their Military History Library.
For more information:
- To learn more about Tommy’s life and service during the Second World War, visit Canadiana and Veterans Affairs.
- You might want to read “Tommy Prince, the decorated and forgotten war hero“, Ottawa Citizen, September 30, 2017 edition.
- For a more academic approach, see “Tommy Prince: Warrior” (Canadian Military History, V16:2).