The Filthy Thirteen

From the Dustbowl to Hitler's Eagle’s Nest - The True Story of the101st Airborne's Most Legendary Squad of Combat Paratroopers

De: Jake McNiece

Narrado por: Kaleo Griffith

Since World War II, the American public has become fully aware of the exploits of the 101st Airborne Division, the paratroopers who led the Allied invasions into Nazi-held Europe. But within the ranks of the 101st, a sub-unit attained legendary status at the time, its reputation persisting among veterans over the decades. Primarily products of the Dustbowl and the Depression, the Filthy13 grew notorious, even within the ranks of the elite 101st. Never ones to salute an officer, or take a bath, this squad became singular within the Screaming Eagles for its hard drinking, and savage fighting skill - and that was only in training.

Just prior to the invasion of Normandy, a "Stars and Stripes" photographer caught U.S. paratroopers with heads shaved into Mohawks, applying war paint to their faces. Unknown to the American public at the time, these men were the Filthy 13. After parachuting behind enemy lines in the dark hours before D-Day, the Germans got a taste of the reckless courage of this unit - except now the men were fighting with Tommy guns and explosives, not just bare knuckles.

In its spearhead role, the 13 suffered heavy casualties, some men wounded and others blown to bits. By the end of the war 30 men had passed through the squad. Throughout the war, however, the heart and soul of the Filthy 13 remained: a survivor named Jake McNiece, a half-breed Indian from Oklahoma - the toughest man in the squad and the one who formed its character. McNiece made four combat jumps, was in the forefront of every fight in northern Europe, yet somehow never made the rank of PFC. The survivors of the Filthy 13 stayed intact as a unit until the Allies finally conquered Nazi Germany.

The book does not draw a new portrait of earnest citizen soldiers. Instead it describes a group of hardscrabble guys whom any respectable person would be loath to meet in a bar or dark alley. But they were an integral part of the U.S. war against Nazi Germany. A brawling bunch of no-goodniks whose only saving grace was that they inflicted more damage on the Germans than on MPs, the English countryside and their own officers, the Filthy 13 remain a legend within the ranks of the 101st Airborne.

©2003 Richard Killblane (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Outstanding & Real

I love this book. I listened to it over & over. One part of WWII told through a terrific lense. I love this book.

Legendary story

Thank you Jake McNiece and team, your service is truly an inspiration. Real leadership is taking action, not following procedures.

Legendary

I liked how the story was told from Jake’s point of view with the views of his fellow soldiers sprinkled in. The story itself was amazing. If you want a short view of the highlights of this book to get a feeling if you want to read it before you buy look up the fat electricians video on YouTube of the filthy thirteen.

Real Life Story

I read some reviews clearly written by the weak minded complaining about the womanizing and drinking in the Story. 🙄 You need to be a monster that has it under control to have virtue, anything else is just weakness. These men walked through hell where the weak dare not tread. This story reflects the real world and not some idealistic sugar coating BS.

A partial dose of WWII

Let me start by saying that I have nothing but admiration for war fighters, in general and special forces in particular. This is an account of Jake McNiece and his squad of demolition soldiers. Like the story of Richard Marcinco (sp) and the first group of Navy SEaLs. McNiece was at the tip of the spear during the war. Unfortunately, this book spends much more time on bar room brawls and insubordination to properly give the reader a taste of what it was like being a paratrooper in the war. And by that I mean, he and his unit were involved in some of the key areas and battles of the war, but yet these battles are kept on the down low. There is a large amount of information regarding fights with other soldiers, Military Police and French citizens. Getting pie-eyed drunk, and feasting on hearts and livers of the animals McNiece killed during lulls in battles. Still, this is more the story of a tough man with a drinking problem who beats the problem and redeems his trouble making ways, his uncommon common sense and the comrades he grows old with.

War stories from the old guys themselves.

I t took me a while to finish it because I wanted to enjoy it so I only listened when I could give my attention 100% to the book. it was great, it was like listening to the veterans tell the stories themselves. A lot of people I know would identify with Jake and his ways.
outstanding book and a group of outstanding people.

Unbelievable

This is undoubtedly the story of perhaps the toughest most fair man to ever serve our country. He did nothing right according to regulations but did everything right when it come to fighting and taking care of his men. This was amazing. RIP Jake

Awesome

Absolutely fantastic.. Got me in the feels too. I was not expecting it to turn into a tearjerker

The brutal honesty of the Accounts of the Men who made up to filthy thirtee.

The filthy thirteen are the basis of the book and the movie The Dirty Dozen

Best WW2 book ever

This was hands down my favorite book of all time when I first read the paperback version a few years ago. So I was excited when I seen it on audible. It delivers just as I hoped. It's my favorite audio now. If I was trying to find a fault the only thing I can think of is the voice of Jack. It's not the voice I had in my head but it's perfect none the less. It's of an old man speaking just like the books wrote and it fits perfectly. The voice I had was an old man that I've know my whole life. Anyway. Of the 50+ WW2 and biography books I've read this is the best by far. The stories are incredible and well researched from the author. Every great tale has some stretch but this one never makes you second guess it for a second.