Tommy Prince facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tommy Prince
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Prince in 1945
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| Nickname(s) | Prince of the Brigade, Legend of Kapyong |
| Born | October 15, 1915 Scanterbury, Manitoba, Canada |
| Died | November 25, 1977 (aged 62) Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Service/ |
Canadian Army |
| Years of service | 1940–1945 1950–1954 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War |
| Awards | Military Medal Silver Star (United States) |
Thomas George Prince (October 25, 1915 – November 25, 1977) was an amazing Indigenous Canadian war hero. He was the most decorated soldier in the First Special Service Force, also known as the Devil's Brigade. This was a special American-Canadian commando unit during World War II. Tommy Prince was Canada's most decorated First Nations soldier. He served bravely in both World War II and the Korean War. His skills as a scout and fighter were very important in many battles.
Tommy Prince came from a family of First Nations chiefs. His grandfather helped negotiate important treaty rights in Manitoba. Tommy Prince also worked to help First Nations people in Canada. He spoke up for their rights in Ottawa. He believed that old treaties should be respected. His ideas, though new at the time, are now part of government policy.
Contents
Early Life and Skills
Tommy Prince was born in Petersfield, Manitoba. He was one of 11 children. His family was part of the Peguis First Nation. His great-grandfather was Chief Peguis, who led his people to Lake Winnipeg. Chief Peguis gave his family the name "Prince." Tommy's grandfather, Chief Henry Prince, signed important treaties for his people. These treaties protected hunting, fishing, and land rights.
Tommy's family had a strong military history. Many relatives served in the Canadian armed forces. Growing up, Tommy became an excellent marksman. He was also very good at tracking and moving silently. He learned these skills by hunting in the wilderness. His father taught him to shoot five bullets through a playing card from 100 meters away.
He went to Elkhorn Residential School. He later joined the student Royal Canadian Army Cadets. He loved wearing his uniform. Tommy wanted to become a lawyer. But he had to leave high school at age 16. This was because his family needed money during the Great Depression. He worked in jobs like cutting trees.
World War II Service
Joining the Army
When World War II started in 1939, Tommy Prince wanted to join the Canadian Army. Even though First Nations people did not have to join, he volunteered. He was turned down many times. But he was finally accepted on June 3, 1940. He first trained as a combat engineer. He was promoted to lance corporal in 1941.
Tommy got bored with office work. He wanted more action. In 1942, he heard about a new special unit. He volunteered for it. This unit was secretly called the First Special Service Force. It was a joint American and Canadian commando unit. They were trained for special missions.
Training for Special Operations
In September 1942, Tommy was promoted to sergeant. He then joined the secret 1st Canadian Special Service Battalion. He went to Fort Benning, Georgia, for training. The unit was later known as the "Devil's Brigade." They trained in Helena, Montana. The soldiers were taken there on trains with blacked-out windows. This was to keep their mission a secret.
This special force had 1,800 men, half American and half Canadian. They were chosen for their tough outdoor backgrounds. They received very hard training. This included stealth tactics, hand-to-hand combat, and using explosives. They also learned rock climbing, mountain fighting, and skiing. They even learned to use German weapons. Tommy Prince became a "Reconnaissance Sergeant," or "Scout." His job was to go ahead and report on enemy movements.
Warrior Traditions and Stealth
Tommy Prince used his Ojibwe First Nations warrior traditions in combat. These traditions focused on stealth and moving without being seen. Warriors would often fight individually. This helped resolve issues with fewer casualties. These skills made Tommy very effective in his missions.
Fighting in Italy
The special force was first sent to the Aleutians. But they did not fight there. Their unique mountain warfare skills were needed in Italy. So, in November 1943, they moved to Italy. They helped fight against the German Bernhard Line. This line had stopped the Allied push towards Rome.
In December 1943, the 1st Special Service Force attacked tough German positions. These included Monte la Difensa and Monte Majo. Other Allied soldiers had failed to take these positions. Tommy Prince discovered he could enter enemy areas at night without being heard. He wore traditional moccasins for silent movement. His commanding officer, Lt. Col. Tom Gilday, noticed his special abilities. He gave Tommy important secret tasks.
Taking Monte Majo
Monte Majo was a key German defensive position. It was very hard to attack. German artillery and machine guns were set up on the steep slopes. Any attack would be met with heavy fire. Earlier attempts had failed with many casualties.
Lt. Col. Gilday asked Tommy Prince to lead a patrol. Their mission was to clear German gun positions on the lower and middle slopes of Monte Majo. This had to be done silently. If Tommy succeeded, the main force could then attack. The attack was planned for January 8, 1944.
Tommy Prince moved "just like a shadow." He left his men behind as support. Then, he went alone into the German gun positions. He silently took out the gunners and soldiers. He did this without making any noise or setting off alarms. He returned before dawn and reported his mission was done. All the German gun pits on the attack route were gone.
When the force moved up Monte Majo, they saw the silent German bunkers. They knew Tommy had done "a beautiful job." Tommy's silent actions allowed the Devil's Brigade to surprise the enemy. They reached the summit without firing a single shot. The force then used captured German machine guns to defend the summit. They fought off many German counter-attacks for several days. The Germans were confused. They heard their own guns firing and shouted, "Stop shooting at us! We are Germans!"
After Monte Majo, the 1st Special Service Force had lost many men. Tommy Prince did not receive a special medal for this mission. His actions were secret. They could not be described publicly without risking future operations.
Heroic Actions at Anzio
After Monte Majo, the force moved to Anzio. On February 5, 1944, Tommy Prince was sent to find German positions. When he didn't return, his commander worried. But two nights later, Tommy appeared. He reported finding a deserted farmhouse near German guns. German patrols had occupied the house. Tommy hid in the attic until they left.
The next night, Tommy went back to the farmhouse. He took thousands of feet of telephone wire. From the farmhouse, he could report enemy locations. One day, an artillery shell cut his wire. Tommy found farmer's clothes and tools. He walked out dressed as a farmer. He pretended to tie his shoelaces while fixing the wire. He shook his fist at the Germans and then at Allied lines, pretending to be angry at both. He went back to his spot and kept reporting. Over the next 24 hours, four German batteries were destroyed. He spent three days behind enemy lines.
For this brave action, he received the Military Medal. His award said he showed "courage and utter disregard for personal safety." This made Tommy Prince famous among soldiers.
At Anzio, Tommy often wore moccasins for silent movement. He would sneak past German guards at night. He left messages, stole boots, and sometimes used his knife. German soldiers called him "geist" (ghost) or "Teufel" (demon) because of these attacks. Tommy also became a regular sniper. He would go into no-man's land at night and target Germans. Soon, the German division moved miles away from the Devil's Brigade.
Fighting in France
After helping to free Rome, the force moved to southern France. On September 1, Tommy Prince and another soldier scouted German lines. They found a large German camp. Tommy watched them closely without being seen.
On their way back, they saw Germans fighting French partisans. Tommy, a great sniper, and the other soldier started shooting the Germans from behind. They killed about 12 Germans, who then ran away. The French leader was amazed. He thought 50 men had helped him. He recommended Tommy for a medal, but the message never arrived.
Tommy then led his force back to the German camp. With the French fighters, they attacked. They killed or captured about 1000 German soldiers. Tommy had been without food, water, or sleep for 72 hours. He had walked over 70 km across mountains.
World War II Awards and Recognition
The 1st Special Service Force was disbanded in December 1944. Tommy Prince returned to the UK. On February 12, 1945, King George VI gave him his Military Medal at Buckingham Palace. The King spoke with Tommy for several minutes about his bravery.
On April 24, 1945, Tommy received the Silver Star from the United States. He was one of only 59 Canadians to get this award. He was one of only three to receive both the Silver Star and the Military Medal.
Tommy also received six service medals for his time in Europe. These included the 1939-1945 Star and the Italy Star. The 1st Special Service Force also received unit awards. These included the French Croix de Guerre with Silver-Gilt Star and the Presidential Unit Citation. In 2002, the Government of France gave a special certificate to Tommy's family. It honored his bravery and help in freeing France. In 2015, the U.S. Congress awarded the First Special Service Force the Congressional Gold Medal.
Life After World War II
New Beginnings and Advocacy
Tommy Prince was honorably discharged on June 15, 1945. He returned home to the Brokenhead Reserve. He worked in a pulpwood camp. After his father died, he moved to Winnipeg. He kept his status as a "Treaty Indian." He started a cleaning service business.
In 1946, he became Vice-President of the Manitoba Indian Association. He was then chosen to represent First Nations of Canada in Ottawa. They were reviewing the Indian Act. This Act controlled many aspects of First Nations life. Tommy wanted to get rid of the Indian Act. He believed that the old treaties should be honored. He argued that First Nations should control their own lands and resources.
Tommy made a strong impression in Ottawa. He helped get some unfair parts of the Indian Act removed. But major changes did not happen right away. It took until 1959 for First Nations people to get the right to vote in Canadian elections without conditions. Tommy was frustrated, and his business failed while he was away. He worked in lumber camps and a concrete factory.
Korean War Service
Returning to Duty
In August 1950, Tommy Prince rejoined the Canadian Army. He wanted to fight in the Korean War. He said, "I owed something to my friends who died" in World War II. He was reinstated as a sergeant. He joined the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (2 PPCLI).
In February 1951, the Patricia's joined the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade. Tommy quickly went back to his special stealth missions. He trained and led an eight-man "snatch patrol" into an enemy camp at night. They silently captured two heavy machine guns. They returned without alerting the enemy or getting hurt. Tommy led more successful night raids. He helped save a fellow soldier's life with his special training.
Tommy's commanding officer was surprised by his bold methods. He started giving Tommy fewer patrols. But the soldiers respected Tommy's fighting skills. Tommy wrote a report about this to his battalion commander, Lt. Col. James Stone.
The Battle of Kapyong
Tommy Prince played a big role in the Battle of Kapyong on April 24-25, 1951. The 2 PPCLI defended an important hill against many Chinese soldiers. The Kapyong Valley was a route for the enemy to surround U.S. forces. The Canadian battalion had about 700 soldiers. They faced a Chinese division of 20,000 soldiers.
Other UN forces, like Australians and American tanks, retreated. They did not tell the Canadians. This left the Canadians surrounded and alone. Brigadier Burke, the commander, flew over and told the Canadians they were cut off. This made the Canadian soldiers angry. Tommy Prince helped calm and motivate the young soldiers. He told them not to run. The Canadian commander, Lt. Col. James Stone, ordered his men to fight to the end. He said, "No retreat, no surrender."
The fighting was fierce. The Canadians ran low on ammunition. They even called in artillery fire on their own positions. The Chinese attacked in huge numbers. But the 2 PPCLI fought them off. The Chinese division withdrew with over 3,000 soldiers killed. The Canadians had 12 killed and 35 wounded. The Chinese did not know how close they were to winning. They left before UN relief forces arrived.
Later Service and Injuries
Tommy's body was getting tired from the war. His knees started to hurt badly. He was hospitalized in May 1951. He was sent back to Canada. He worked as a sergeant at a training school. His knees got better. In March 1952, he volunteered for a second tour in Korea.
In November 1952, Chinese forces attacked "the Hook." This was a vital area. The 3rd PPCLI was called to help British forces. They recaptured the position. Tommy was wounded by shrapnel in his legs. But he kept fighting. He refused to leave for medical treatment. He even removed shrapnel from his legs himself. He then carried another wounded soldier to the medical station. He recovered from these wounds. But he was hospitalized for weeks in early 1953 for his knees. The war ended during this time.
He stayed in the army as an instructor until October 1953. He then worked at a personnel depot until September 1954. He received a small disability pension for his injured knees.
Korean War Awards
Tommy's officers in Korea did not nominate him for medals for his silent night attacks. They also did not nominate him for his bravery at "the Hook."
Tommy and his fellow 2 PPCLI members received the United States Presidential Unit Citation for the Battle of Kapyong. In 2016, Lt. Col. Stone and his soldiers were called "Legends of Gapyeong" by the Government of South Korea. Tommy also received the Korea Medal and the United Nations Korea Medal.
Later Life and Legacy
Adjusting to civilian life was hard for Tommy. His knees were very painful from his military service. He had a small disability pension. But as a First Nations member, he could not access other veteran programs. These programs were often only available through the Royal Canadian Legion. First Nations members were not allowed in the Legion until 1966. This made it very difficult for Tommy to get help.
Tommy married Verna Sinclair and had five children. He found a job at an ice cream factory. But he faced unfair treatment from some co-workers. They did not know about his war achievements. Tommy never talked about his military record. He eventually left the job. This made him feel sad about society.
In 1955, Tommy saved a man from drowning in the Red River in Winnipeg. He used an army "stranglehold" to pull the man to safety. He quietly left before the media arrived. But someone recognized him. He later said, "I knew how I'd have felt if I were in the water unable to swim and someone just stood looking at me, not doing a thing."
His life became harder. He separated from his wife in 1964. His children went to foster homes. He visited his daughter Beryl every month. Unlike other famous war heroes, Tommy did not get help from rich friends or the government. His fight for First Nations rights had put him against government policies.
He became depressed. Like many veterans, he had nightmares from combat. He sometimes became homeless. Winnipeg police officers knew him and his heroic service. They would take him to a Salvation Army facility instead of arresting him. His last years were spent mostly alone. He lived in a small room at a Salvation Army hostel. He worked temporary jobs like cleaning. He sold his war medals to support himself. But he was still generous to others.
Tommy attended annual Remembrance Day reunions. His old comrades knew he was struggling. One friend said, "someone should have done something...especially the regiment." In 1976, Tommy was attacked and beaten on the streets. He was also wounded in another incident. These events may have contributed to his death the next year.
He died in 1977 at age 62. He was buried in Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg. Even though he struggled in his later years, he was still famous. He was given a provincial state funeral. Over 500 people attended. Soldiers from the Princess Patricia's Brigade were his pallbearers. Men from the Saulteaux nation sang a "Death of a Warrior" song. Many officials were there, including the Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba. Tommy's daughters were surprised by the huge public response. They wondered where the officials had been when their father was struggling. Tommy had never told his daughters about his war record.
Honours and Legacy
In 1976, Tommy Prince received the Certificate of Merit. This was for his dedicated service to the First Nations people of Manitoba. Tommy once said, "All my life I had wanted to do something to help my people recover their good name."
Since his death, many things have been named in his honour:
- Sgt. Tommy Prince Street – Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Sgt. Tommy Prince School – Scanterbury, Manitoba
- The "Tommy Prince Barracks" at Canadian Forces Base, Petawawa, Ontario
- The "Tommy Prince Drill Hall" in Wainwright, Alberta
- Government of Canada "Sergeant Tommy Prince Army Training Initiative" for Indigenous recruiting
- The "Tommy Prince Award": An Assembly of First Nations scholarship
- The "Tommy Prince Scholarship" at Sault College, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
- 553 Sgt. Tommy Prince PPCLI Cadet Corps, Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Tommy Prince Road in Valour Park – Calgary, Alberta (2010)
- Tom Prince Drive - Petersfield, Manitoba
In 1968, a Hollywood film called "The Devil's Brigade" was made. But Tommy Prince was not shown in the story. In 1998, a TV documentary called "Fallen Hero: The Tommy Prince Story" was aired.
In 2000, Tommy's military medals were put up for auction. His nephew, Jim Bear, raised money and bought them for $75,000. This was a very high price for medals at the time. Aboriginal groups, the Royal Canadian Legion, and the Canadian government helped. The medals are now on display at the Manitoba Museum in Winnipeg.
In 2002, the French Ambassador gave Tommy's family a special certificate. It recognized his bravery and help during WWII. In 2004, the Province of Manitoba honored Tommy Prince.
In 2005, Historica Canada released a Heritage Minute about Prince. In 2010, actor Adam Beach announced he would play Tommy Prince in a movie. Beach is also Ojibwe and Salteaux. He said he was honored to play such a positive role model.
In 2019, Tommy Prince was named one of the Persons of National Historic Significance of Canada. In November 2019, a documentary called "Bravery In Arms" showed Tommy's achievements at Monte Majo.
In June 2020, some politicians suggested putting Tommy Prince's face on the Canadian $5 bill. On October 17, 2022, Canada Post announced a postage stamp honoring Tommy Prince. The stamp shows him in his Korean War uniform. It also shows the Northern Lights.
Images for kids
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Monument to Tommy Prince, Kildonan Park, Winnipeg, just a few steps from the monument to his great-grandfather Peguis
