James “Jake” McNiece passes
ROS sends the sad news that James “Jake” McNiece has passed at the age of 93.
McNiece, a retired Ponca City postal worker, commanded a group of rough men nicknamed “The Filthy 13,” who served as the inspiration for the 1967 movie “The Dirty Dozen.” Hours before the June 6, 1944, D-Day invasion, McNiece led 18 paratroopers behind enemy lines to destroy two bridges and control a third to prevent German reinforcements from moving into Normandy and to cut off retreating German troops. Sixteen of his men were killed during the 36-day mission, in which they also cut enemy communications and supply lines.
McNiece talks about his refusal to stand “Retreat”;
And he talks about his war experiences;
Category: Blue Skies
I am so sad. Not only have we lost a hero and patriot, Oklahoma has lost one of our brightest sons. 🙁
Godspeed, Jake.
RIP!! St Peter has quite the crowd to contend with up there now! Airborne!!
Our Company will be saddened to hear this. R.I.P. To an Airborne legend. “First In, Last Out!”
“We should thank God that such men lived.”
RIP, elder brother-in-arms.
When I read such stories of the men and women of that generation … it truly makes me proud to be an American and no doubt their sacrifices contrubuted to my successes.
At the gates of heaven: “SGT James “Jake” McNiece, United States Army … Arriving”
McNeice made four combat jumps during WW II and, in preparation for his first, at Normandy, he went Indian, cutting his hair in Mohawk style and covering his face in war paint. Others of his demolition unit followed suit and you’ve seen a couple of them many times in the D-Day send-off pics. Reportedly, he couldn’t maintain rank very long, getting busted now and then for this or that infraction. His attitude, which he states in the video, was that he was in the Army to kill the enemy. The rest, he had little use for. What a character. What a warrior. Others may have been as tough but there were none tougher. I’m very glad he was on our side. May he rest in peace.
I should add that Mr. McNiece was the last surviving member of the Filthy 13. They are gone. 🙁
[…] HT/This Ain’t Hell […]
“Let no one weep for me, or celebrate my funeral with mourning; for I still live, as I pass to and fro through the mouths of men.” – Quintus Ennius