Aleutian Islands Campaign - July 1943 Italian Campaign Battle of Monte La Difensa - December 1943 Battle of Anzio - 2nd February 1944 Liberation of Rome - 4th June 1944 Invasion of Southern France Operation Dragoon - 15th August 1944 Liberation of Cannes - 24th August 1944 Operation Northwind - December 31st, 1944– January 25th, 1945 Operation Undertone - March 8–24, 1945 Battle of Aschaffenburg - March 28 - April 3, 1945 Major General Robert Tryon Frederick (March 14, 1907 – November 29, 1970) was a senior United States Army officer.

He was twice awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (United States) and was a recipient of a remarkable eight Purple Hearts received from combat during World War II.

Upon graduation from West Point, New York, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery Corps of the United States Army.

[1] The unit, activated on July 9, 1942, at Fort William Henry Harrison, Montana, was originally intended for commando operations in Norway, and trained extensively in winter and mountain warfare, as well as hand-to-hand combat and other infantry skills.

In April 1943, the unit moved to Camp Bradford, Virginia for training, then to Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont.

It returned to the contiguous United States in September, and then left in October for the European Theater of Operations (ETO).

It then moved up the French Riviera coastline, taking Cannes unopposed on August 24, 1944, and linking up with Frederick's old unit, the 1st Special Service Force.

[1] After a period of occupation duty, the 45th Infantry Division prepared to return to the United States and Frederick relinquished command in September 1945.

In the 1968 film The Devil's Brigade, which chronicled the formation, training and combat in Italy of the 1st Special Service Force, Robert T. Frederick was played by actor William Holden.

It is a short-bladed stiletto with a thumb groove on the top of the blade to promote proper hand placement when attacking an opponent.

While commanding his own organization and an attached task force, Brigadier General Frederick made a personal reconnaissance to determine hostile positions prior to an attack.

While leading his men against the enemy, he continued his reconnaissance in advance of his forward troops to obtain information from which to plan the development of the attack.

Operating in terrain almost devoid of cover and concealment, he organized a surprise attack that quickly drove the enemy from a strategically important position.

Brigadier General Frederick's constant presence under enemy fire forward of his own troops proved an inspiration to them and a decisive factor in the accomplishment of his mission.

When the resistance had been overcome and movement through the city resumed, General Frederick, with only a small party, sped ahead in his half-track vehicle to examine the bridges for demolitions and neutralize charges that may have been placed but not yet exploded.

His courage, leadership and determination in battle inspired his troops and were largely responsible for the successful accomplishment of a difficult operation.