The Filthy 13

JCFalkenbergIII · #1 (**permalink**) October 29th, 2008, 08:06 PM

I remember the famous photo of the face painting before Normandy. After reading abut the death of Miguel Marquez. I thought I would look them up and found some addtional info on them I thought that some others would be interested. They sound like a very interesting group.

"No other group the 440th Troop Carrier Group carried into battle has inspired more legend and myth than the story of the special demolition squad, the "Filthy Thirteen." Their story, told on page 40 of DZ Europe: The Story of the 440th Troop Carrier Group, was an account of the Thirteen taken from a June 1944 issue of Stars and Stripes. It's hard to tell almost sixty years on whether the fictional parts were derived to inspire the folks at home or to scare the hell out of the Germans, maybe both.

The few survivors of the famous Filthy Thirteen have a slightly different story to tell. 101st Airborne historian Mark Bando interviewed a couple of the original Thirteen for his book, The 101st Airborne at Normandy, published in 1994.

They were members of HQ/ 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, and the roster included: "Jake McNiece, Jack Womer, John Agnew, Lt. Charles Mellen, Joseph Oleskiewicz, John Hale, James T. Green, George Radeka, Clarence Ware, Robert S. Cone, Roland R. Baribeau, James E. Leach and Andrew Rassmussen. Others including Frank Palys and Charles Plaudo were sometimes members of the group." Only a few survived the Normandy mission, though the members of the unit did complete their assigned mission, blowing bridges over the Douve River.

A review of surnames from the group quickly disposes of the myth that they were all "Indians." Several are of Polish descent and Robert Cone who was badly wounded in Normandy and captured was Jewish. He would spend the remainder of the war in POW camps.

Another myth of the Thirteen was that Lt. Mellen could whip any member of the group. According to Jake McNiece, "any one of our group could have whipped him without working up a sweat." Lt. Mellen was KIA in Normandy and was found dead, bandaged about the arm and leg. Apparently he fought on for some time after being wounded.

The notoriety the Filthy Thirteen gained in Stars and Stripes and the famous photo in DZ Europe of two of them applying war paint certainly inspired first the novel and then the movie, "The Dirty Dozen," a completely fictional story. Fortunately, a new book about the famous Thirteen is due out in April 2003, The Filthy Thirteen: The True Story of the Dirty Dozen, by Richard Killblane and Jake McNiece. It is to be published by Casemate and details the story of the famous squad from Normandy to Bavaria.

Sources: The 101st Airborne at Normandy, by Mark Bando; Trigger Time, 101st Airborne web site, by Mark Bando; Stone & Stone Second World War Books web site"

"The novel, "The Dirty Dozen" was published in 1965 by E.M. Nathanson. Nathanson's story was inspired by WWII OSS officer Aaron Bank. In 1944 Major Bank was given the job of selecting anti Nazi German POW's and then lead them on a mission to whipe out Hitler's high command. The mission was scrubbed but Nathanson used the idea for a novel, only he changed the prisoners from German POWs to GI convicts. The title of his novel seems to have been borrowed from the "Filthy 13". Like the 13 the "Dozen" refuse to shower and are a bane to the 101st Abn brass, also in the book/movie the dozen take out a 101st HQ and have a party prior to D-Day. "

The Filthy Thirteen: The inspiration for the Dirty Dozen - DiscussAnything.com -

WWII vet, member of Filthy 13 unit dies

WWII vet, member of Filthy 13 unit dies - El Paso Times

World War II: Pathfinders Resupply 101st Airborne Division Troops in Bastogne Via Daring Parachute Drop » HistoryNet

wtid45 · #2 (**permalink**) October 29th, 2008, 08:51 PM

As per normal nice post JC i have the book that Richard Killblane & Jake Mcniece wrote and this is from the flyleaf "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 it's 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".There is very little on the pathfinders written and this is a cracking book to fill that void.

dgmitchell · #3 (**permalink**) October 29th, 2008, 09:44 PM

This would be a great subject for a movie. Has one ever been made?

JCFalkenbergIII · #4 (**permalink**) October 29th, 2008, 09:57 PM

I find it kind of odd that Miguel Marquez isn't mentioned.

wtid45 · #5 (**permalink**) October 29th, 2008, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCFalkenbergIII

I find it kind of odd that Miguel Marquez isn't mentioned.

He is along with his brother, Mike miguel marquez and Armando marquez had planned to enlist in the air corps but the recruiting sergeant gave them a good line of propaganda and convinced armando to join the airborne instead .Mike wanted to be a pilot but followed his younger brother.Both ended up in the demolitions platoon.Although Mike was assigned to another section he would end up fighting alongside the filthy 13 in Normandy and Holland.