Originally published December 2, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified December 2, 2008 at 3:34 PM

Family day at Fort Lewis

On Monday, family day, relatives of Special Forces soldiers not only saw a demonstration of small-arms weapons, they got to shoot some, too.

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JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Jake Mason, 8, plays with spent ammunition casings while waiting for his dad, who was on the firing range Monday as part of Menton Week at Fort Lewis.

JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Thea McNally, left, reacts after being handed an M249 SAW machine gun from Master Sgt. Randy Kerlee on Monday.

It's Menton Week at Fort Lewis, and that means the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) is celebrating.

On Monday, family day, relatives of Special Forces soldiers not only saw a demonstration of small-arms weapons, they got to shoot some, too.

Today, a wreath-laying ceremony is scheduled, and on Wednesday, teams of combined U.S. and Canadian forces will compete in helicopter rappelling and rifle marksmanship at the base.

The week's events lead up to the 64th Menton Day, which commemorates the inactivation of the U.S.-Canadian elite First Special Service Force on Dec. 5, 1944, in Menton, France.

That unit, known as the "Devil's Brigade" during World War II, was one of the first Special Forces units activated. Its mission was to parachute into enemy-occupied territory and destroy vital Axis installations. It logged a distinguished record of unconventional operations behind enemy lines.

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