Devil's Brigade vet Bernard Cooper watches from Calgary as comrades accept Congressional Medal
97-year-old not well enough to make trip to Washington, D.C.
A 97-year-old Calgary man wished he could have been with his wartime comrades as they received a major honour in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday.
- The Devil's Brigade special forces unit gets Congressional Gold Medal
- Devil's Brigade vet Maurice White joins unit to get congressional honour
- Devil's Brigade veteran Al Wilson, 90, dies 1 day before getting U.S. medal
Bernard Cooper was a member of the famed Devil's Brigade — a Second World War elite commando unit comprised of Canadian and U.S. soldiers that often carried out dangerous missions behind German lines.
The unit was given the Congressional Gold Medal today, which is the highest civilian honour awarded by the U.S. Congress.
“We did every action that we were assigned,” he said. “We did it with a fair amount of speed according to any battles the way battles were run. And I think we were a fair fighting bunch.”
The Devil’s Brigade later served as the model for the U.S. navy SEALS. The brigade also inspired a 1968 war film of the same name.
"It's a big thing because we deserved it. But it is a little late, as far as I'm concerned, to be too excited,” he said.
Cooper watched the ceremony with his family but hopes he can attend another ceremony in Montana in the spring.