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
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The Filthy Thirteen
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Narrated by:
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Kaleo Griffith
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By:
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Jake McNiece
About this listen
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.Listeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about The Filthy Thirteen
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ty Willetts
- 31-08-19
Stunning
Amazing encounters, hooked from the beginning to the end
Must never forget these men
Thanks
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paul
- 15-09-23
The Filthy Thirteen
Exception, what these men had to endure and fight through is really told in a gripping way
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- ethan howells
- 12-02-16
buy it!!!
this is my fave book about my fave war hero. funny in parts but heart breaking in others.
anyone who reads this will love it!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Marty
- 09-02-21
excellent story telling by an epic man
Funny, thrilling, heartbreaking and awe inspiring. what a legend and a gang of legends .....NOT CRIMINALS!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- GC
- 21-08-23
Different 🤔
I struggled a little with Part one as it took time for the story to develop past Jakes many escapades during his formative years as a Rebel. Once it got going it was informative on his path during the Conflict and with the sad detail of loss.
However the book is full of comment regarding a lack of discipline and focussed on just that.
I wonder how the Allies would have achieved Victory if such an attitude prevailed throughout the Military.
Yes the commitment, courage and achievement is absolutely without question and should remain honoured but an abridged version of the content for me would have been more appreciated in providing a log of the exploits of both the man and the exploits of the Filthy 13th.
Still worth listening to.
Lest we forget their Sacrifice.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Matt T
- 29-08-23
Amazing audiobook
Anyone after an amazing audiobook should really take a listen to this one. A true story of citizen soldiers of a calibre that I doubt can be measured by modern armies. The protagonist remains a private soldier throughout the war, but he is often trusted way beyond his pay grade … legendary tales from ww2… worth a listen… 5 stars
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Geordie
- 07-06-15
Just a story about what Jake ate through the war
I found the book lacked in detail, no one event was explored. The story just spoke about this ex paratrooper getting into fights disobeying orders and stealing food. The storey lacked depth!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- J. T.
- 18-09-23
Not great
I really wasnt impressed with this book. First this is in no way a criticism of the 101 Airborne or its soldiers. It is a criticism of the author.
This book is basicaly a " tall tale" I doubt the authenticity of alot of it; in fact the author states at the begining theres no one living to contradict him so he can say what he likes..According to the author Jake he was the best killing and meanest fighting soldier...he constantly states how he whipped ( beat up) this person or that soldier . How he refused to salute officers and never saluted, never washed his clothes or cleaned himself rarely shaved virtualy never showered and did what he wanted, refused to clean the camp refused to stand to attention on parades or do drill. Stole what he wanted went AWOL when he wanted threatend to kill officers and soldiers alike as soon as he went into battle. In battle, according to him he only followed orders he agreed with often told officers they were wrong and often refused to obey direct orders . Its total rubbish. Do you think an outfit about to go to war would put up with this? He would be jailed , at best this book is a gross exageration a tall tale. Theres no real description of combat , yes combat is mentioned but not in detail. The book ends with defence barrister like trying to defend this mans actions . He was a thief, had no discipline and commited random acts of extreme violence against others mostly whilst drunk and the narrator tries to defend this? This book is mostly fiction in my opinion, it annoyed me as its trying to glorify criminal and stupid ill disciplined acts....I wish I never bought the book, complete fairytale waste of time. The ONLY positive thing I can say is on the odd occasion it mentions interesting things like he would go to wounded paratroops not to help them but apparently they would put coffee satchets in their boots ....he would go and cut the wounded and dead soldiers boots off and take their coffee....says it all.
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