The Filthy Thirteen

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Since World War II, the exploits of the 101st Airborne Division have captured the American public's imagination, particularly those of a notorious sub-unit known as the Filthy Thirteen. Emerging from the Dustbowl and the Depression, this squad gained a legendary reputation for their hard drinking and fierce fighting, often refusing to salute officers or even bathe. Just before the Normandy invasion, a photographer captured paratroopers with Mohawk haircuts and war paint, unknowingly documenting the Filthy Thirteen. As they parachuted behind enemy lines on D-Day, the Germans quickly learned of their reckless courage, armed with Tommy guns and explosives rather than just their fists. The unit faced heavy casualties, with thirty men passing through its ranks by war's end. Central to the squad's character was Jake McNiece, a half-breed Indian from Oklahoma, who made four combat jumps and fought valiantly in northern Europe, yet never rose above the rank of PFC. The Filthy Thirteen remained a cohesive unit until the Allies triumphed over Nazi Germany. Rather than portraying them as typical citizen soldiers, this account reveals a rough-and-tumble group whose impact on the war was significant, inflicting more damage on the enemy than on their own officers or surroundings, solidifying their legendary status within the 101st Airborne.