Filthy Thirteen
Encyclopedia
The Filthy Thirteen was the name given to a sub-unit of the regimental headquarters of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
, 101st Airborne Division, of the United States Army
, which fought in the European campaign in World War II
. This unit was selected and trained to demolish enemy targets behind the lines. They were assigned to destroy a bridge over the Douve River during the Normandy Invasion of Europe in June 1944, a mission that cost the lives of most of these men. The group was airdropped for the mission by aircraft of the 440th Troop Carrier Group of the U.S. Army Air Force.
This unit was best known for the famous photo which appeared in Stars and Stripes
, showing two members wearing Indian-style "mohawks
" and applying war paint to one another. The inspiration for this came from Jake McNiece, who was part Native-American.
After a disciplinary incident while on leave, McNiece joined the "Pathfinders". These were paratroopers sent in ahead of the main force to guide them in. Expected casualties were 80-90%. The pathfinders were dropped into the encircled city of Bastogne
at the height of the Battle of the Bulge
. Their equipment enabled them to guide in subsequent airdrops of supplies crucial to the continued resistance of the trapped 101st Airborne Division.
E.M. Nathanson's
inspiration for his book The Dirty Dozen
came from a friend who filmed a documentary during the war that included a unit he believed had been recruited from convicts. Following that lead, Nathanson scoured the archives of prison records from the European Theater of Operation to find any prisoner sent to this organization. His exhaustive research provided no such person, because no such unit of convicts existed. Quite possibly Nathanson's friend was involved in the filming of the preparation for the D-Day jump that included the Filthy Thirteen. While the members of the Filthy Thirteen were made famous by the photographic image of their shaved mokawks and war paint, the still photographer was accompanied by a motion cameraman recording the very same activity. What his friend had most likely heard was the rumors and myth that circulated around the Filthy Thirteen.
While there were similarities between the Filthy Thirteen and the Dirty Dozen, there were also many differences. The name "Filthy 13" referred to the fact that while training in England, they washed and shaved once a week and never cleaned their uniforms.
Jake McNiece considered that any activities not directly concerned with killing the enemy were irrelevant. This attitude caused him to be in constant trouble with the military authorities. Nevertheless, McNiece finished the war with four combat jumps including Normandy and Market Garden
-- a very rare feat for US paratroopers. Of the activities of the Filthy Thirteen, John Agnew once said, "We weren’t murderers or anything, we just didn’t do everything we were supposed to do in some ways and did a whole lot more than they wanted us to do in other ways. We were always in trouble."
An interview with Jake McNiece and John Agnew can be found on the two disc version of the "Dirty Dozen" DVD.
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
The 506th Infantry Regiment is a unit assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division. During World War II, the unit was designated the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment ....
, 101st Airborne Division, of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, which fought in the European campaign in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. This unit was selected and trained to demolish enemy targets behind the lines. They were assigned to destroy a bridge over the Douve River during the Normandy Invasion of Europe in June 1944, a mission that cost the lives of most of these men. The group was airdropped for the mission by aircraft of the 440th Troop Carrier Group of the U.S. Army Air Force.
This unit was best known for the famous photo which appeared in Stars and Stripes
Stars and Stripes (newspaper)
Stars and Stripes is a news source that operates from inside the United States Department of Defense but is editorially separate from it. The First Amendment protection which Stars and Stripes enjoys is safeguarded by Congress to whom an independent ombudsman, who serves the readers' interests,...
, showing two members wearing Indian-style "mohawks
Mohawk hairstyle
The mohawk is a hairstyle in which, in the most common variety, both sides of the head are shaven, leaving a strip of noticeably longer hair...
" and applying war paint to one another. The inspiration for this came from Jake McNiece, who was part Native-American.
After a disciplinary incident while on leave, McNiece joined the "Pathfinders". These were paratroopers sent in ahead of the main force to guide them in. Expected casualties were 80-90%. The pathfinders were dropped into the encircled city of Bastogne
Bastogne
Bastogne Luxembourgish: Baaschtnech) is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Luxembourg in the Ardennes. The municipality of Bastogne includes the old communes of Longvilly, Noville, Villers-la-Bonne-Eau, and Wardin...
at the height of the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
. Their equipment enabled them to guide in subsequent airdrops of supplies crucial to the continued resistance of the trapped 101st Airborne Division.
E.M. Nathanson's
E. M. Nathanson
E. M. Nathanson is the author of the 1965 novel The Dirty Dozen, which was adapted into the film of the same name.-Bibliography:*The Dirty Dozen *The Latecomers...
inspiration for his book The Dirty Dozen
The Dirty Dozen
The Dirty Dozen is a 1967 film directed by Robert Aldrich and released by MGM. It was filmed in England and features an ensemble cast, including Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, Jim Brown, John Cassavetes, Telly Savalas, and Robert Webber. The film is based on E. M...
came from a friend who filmed a documentary during the war that included a unit he believed had been recruited from convicts. Following that lead, Nathanson scoured the archives of prison records from the European Theater of Operation to find any prisoner sent to this organization. His exhaustive research provided no such person, because no such unit of convicts existed. Quite possibly Nathanson's friend was involved in the filming of the preparation for the D-Day jump that included the Filthy Thirteen. While the members of the Filthy Thirteen were made famous by the photographic image of their shaved mokawks and war paint, the still photographer was accompanied by a motion cameraman recording the very same activity. What his friend had most likely heard was the rumors and myth that circulated around the Filthy Thirteen.
While there were similarities between the Filthy Thirteen and the Dirty Dozen, there were also many differences. The name "Filthy 13" referred to the fact that while training in England, they washed and shaved once a week and never cleaned their uniforms.
Members
Jake McNiece, Jack Womer, John Agnew, Brincely Stroup, Lt. Charles Mellen, Joseph Oleskiewicz, John Hale, James F. Green, George Radeka, Clarence Ware, Robert S. Cone, Roland R. Baribeau, James E. Leech, Herb Pierce, and Andrew Rasmussen. Others in the group included Frank Palys and Charles Plaudo.Jake McNiece considered that any activities not directly concerned with killing the enemy were irrelevant. This attitude caused him to be in constant trouble with the military authorities. Nevertheless, McNiece finished the war with four combat jumps including Normandy and Market Garden
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
-- a very rare feat for US paratroopers. Of the activities of the Filthy Thirteen, John Agnew once said, "We weren’t murderers or anything, we just didn’t do everything we were supposed to do in some ways and did a whole lot more than they wanted us to do in other ways. We were always in trouble."
An interview with Jake McNiece and John Agnew can be found on the two disc version of the "Dirty Dozen" DVD.