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Rivaled by NoneIfSLeapingParty*Whereabouts Not Known, But Pity the Nazis Who Meet ThemBy Tom HogeStars and Stripes Staff Writer. •A NINTH TROOP-CARRIER BASE, ' England—They called themselves the “filthy thirteen,” -and took priqle in - the- .reputation they had of - being, the ; ornariest, meanest group of paratroopers that .ever hit this base.And on D-Day they went over 'as a' suicide squad. Twelve’ were full-blooded American Indians. The 12th7* a Yank, had won their respect—the hard way—and was made a blood brother in Indian tradition.They boasted, that they hadn’t •washed since Christmas, and menfeere will testify that this -was onlytoo true—so true that it earned thema secluded spot on the leeward sideof’ the other barracks. Time enough to wash after D-Day. they said.There was ah air of arrogance about them; but no one minded that much. They were a suicide squad who’d volunteered for a mission thatno one hankered after—demolition. They'd asked for the chance” to land behind enemy lines and blow up everything in sight. So no one challenged their ■ arrogance.JSharpened Knives, MachettesDuring the difficult days when the *nen waited in isolation from the outside world waiting and sweating, the ‘'filthy thirteen” kept activ^ They sharpened their knives, their ma-chettes, and the other evil-looking weapons they’d picked up, in addition to their regular equipment.It gave everybody the creeps to Watch them.As the day drew nearer they made ether preparations for battle—preparations traditional with their ancient tribes. They shaved off their hair*leaving only the scalp lock. Theya:took cosmetics and aaubbed their features with war paint And they acquired habits that were somewhat of a trial. to the officers at the ba-se.-They refused to pitch their tents. They refused to use blankets. At night they flung themselves on the ground in full battle dress, their beloved knives and machettes close to them. And they refused to wash. Not until after D-Day, they said.• In their spare moments the “filthy thirteen” fought. They fought in pairs, in free-for-all groups or with the powerful young lieutenant who was their jump master. With concentration he-could whip them singly and frequently had to. He could never have commanded them otherwise. He knew it and so did they.liITBA1]]a:tiUO'dyVtitiSi•flt;bSv,ViCtt!otlnPseMade a ‘Brother*It wa* this respect for Courage andfighting prowess that earned the white “brother” his relationship with the group. When he’d proved ihim self in a bloody series of fist fights and wrestling matches, the leader' of the group, a young Seminole giant, took out a glittering hip knife and deftly j a nicked bpth their forefingers. Ming- 1 ling the drops of blood he declared c the Yank a blood brother, SWhen the:eve of D-Day arrived and -the signal was given to move out, the “filthy thirteen lined UP on t^e runway with -the rest of the squads. In .the dark tneir painted features had a savage glare, it was near the littletown in France that they jumped into a blob of darkness. And as they went plummeting down all hell broke loose from flak and machine-gun batteries.As they swung away from the runand started home several pilots thought they heard a deep roar come rumbling up from the ground—like TNT, No one was certain. No one knows yet just what happened' to the “filthy thirteen.” But all agree on one thing. Pity the poor Nazi who encounters them.S-C
Newspaper Details
Northern Ireland Stars and Stripes
Belfast, Ulster, GB
Fri, Jun 09, 1944
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CA 15 Sep 2021
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