Fighting with the Filthy Thirteen: The World War II Story of Jack Womer - Ranger and Paratrooper

Action-packed account of fighting with the Filthy Thirteen as a spearhead of 101st Airborne in Normandy, Market Garden, and Battle of the Bulge by one of the squad’s integral members.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 31 January 2018
Publisher: Casemate Publishers

The Filthy Thirteen, a notorious squad of fighting men within the 101st Airborne Division, has gained widespread recognition as the real-life inspiration for the iconic movie "The Dirty Dozen." Renowned for their hard drinking and savage fighting skills, they became a singular group within the Screaming Eagles, even during training. Just before the invasion of Normandy, a Stars and Stripes photographer captured U.S. paratroopers with shaved heads and war paint on their faces, unknowingly revealing them as the Filthy 13.

In this captivating work, one of the squad's integral members, Jack Womer, shares his own firsthand account of fighting as a spearhead of the Screaming Eagles during the pivotal battles in Normandy, Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge. Originally part of the 29th Infantry Division, Womer was selected to join the elite Ranger battalion but faced disappointment when it was dissolved after a year of rigorous training under British Commando instructors. Undeterred, Womer sought transfer to the Screaming Eagles, where he found a place among the division's most miscreant squad of brawlers, drunkards, and misfits.

Beginning on June 6, 1944, the Filthy Thirteen embarked on a year of ferocious combat at the very tip of the Allied advance in Europe. From parachuting behind German lines on D-Day to the grueling defense of Bastogne, Womer fought beyond the breaking point of the soldiers around him. In this remarkable work, Jack Womer, in collaboration with Stephen DeVito, provides an incredibly frank and insightful look into close-quarters combat in Europe. The reader is taken on a journey through the harrowing experiences of Womer and his fellow soldiers, as they faced the horrors of war and the indomitable spirit of the human spirit.

The Filthy Thirteen's story is a testament to the bravery and resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Their actions during World War II have left an indelible mark on history, and their legacy continues to inspire generations to come. This work serves as a valuable contribution to our understanding of the war and the men who fought it, offering a glimpse into the lives of the Filthy 13 and the sacrifices they made for their country.

Weight: 434g
Dimension: 153 x 227 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781612005645