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Fighting with the Filthy Thirteen: The World War II Story of Jack Womer - Ranger and Paratrooper
In 2004 the world was first introduced to The Filthy Thirteen, a book describing the most notorious squad of fighting men in the 101st Airborne Division (and the inspiration for the movie “The Dirty Dozen”).
In this long awaited work one of the squad’s integral members—and probably its best soldier—reveals his own inside account of fighting as a spearhead of the Screaming Eagles in Normandy, Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge.
Jack Womer was originally a member of the 29th Infantry Division and was selected to be part of its elite Ranger battalion. But after a year of grueling training under the eyes of British Commando instructors, the 29th Rangers were suddenly dissolved. Bitterly disappointed, Womer asked for transfer to another elite unit, the Screaming Eagles, where room was found for him among the division’s most miscreant squad of brawlers, drunkards, and goof-offs.
Beginning on June 6, 1944, however, the Filthy Thirteen began proving themselves more a menace to the German Army than they had been to their own officers and the good people of England, embarking on a year-of ferocious combat at the very tip of the Allied advance in Europe.
In this work, with the help of Stephen DeVito, Jack provides an amazingly frank look at close-quarters combat in Europe, as well as the almost surreal experience of dust-bowl-era GI’s entering country after country in their grapple with the Wehrmacht, finally ending up in Hitler’s mountaintop lair in Germany itself.
Throughout his fights, Jack Womer credited his Ranger/Commando training for helping him to survive, even though most of the rest of the Filthy Thirteen did not. And in the end he found the reward he had most coveted all along: being able to return to his fiancée Theresa back in the States.
In this long awaited work one of the squad’s integral members—and probably its best soldier—reveals his own inside account of fighting as a spearhead of the Screaming Eagles in Normandy, Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge.
Jack Womer was originally a member of the 29th Infantry Division and was selected to be part of its elite Ranger battalion. But after a year of grueling training under the eyes of British Commando instructors, the 29th Rangers were suddenly dissolved. Bitterly disappointed, Womer asked for transfer to another elite unit, the Screaming Eagles, where room was found for him among the division’s most miscreant squad of brawlers, drunkards, and goof-offs.
Beginning on June 6, 1944, however, the Filthy Thirteen began proving themselves more a menace to the German Army than they had been to their own officers and the good people of England, embarking on a year-of ferocious combat at the very tip of the Allied advance in Europe.
In this work, with the help of Stephen DeVito, Jack provides an amazingly frank look at close-quarters combat in Europe, as well as the almost surreal experience of dust-bowl-era GI’s entering country after country in their grapple with the Wehrmacht, finally ending up in Hitler’s mountaintop lair in Germany itself.
Throughout his fights, Jack Womer credited his Ranger/Commando training for helping him to survive, even though most of the rest of the Filthy Thirteen did not. And in the end he found the reward he had most coveted all along: being able to return to his fiancée Theresa back in the States.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published September 20, 2012
103 people are currently reading
211 people want to read
About the author
Jack Womer
1 book2 followersJack Womer is a World War II veteran of high distinction, having been a member of both the 29th Ranger Battalion and the 101st Airborne’s Screaming Eagles. Jack was eventually made buck sergeant of the Filthy Thirteen, a position which he held until the end of the war. After being discharged in September 1945, Jack returned to Dundalk, Maryland, immediately married his fiancée, Theresa Cook, and returned to his job at the Bethlehem Steel facilities in Sparrows Point. He retired in 1982 after more than forty years of service to the firm. Jack currently lives in Fort Howard, Maryland.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 10, 2024
With each WWII book that I read, I gain a little bit more information about battles. Here Mr Jack Womer tells us that on his drop into France, some pilots were so scared being under fire, that they hit the green jump light over the English Channel and many of our Screaming Eagles were drowned!
I like to think that this book might not have even been written were it not for Jacks wife Thereas and family for saving all letters Jack wrote home and news articles from local papers about him. If it were not for Mr. Stephen Devitos interest in some photo and a call to Jack, his story were not have been told.
With that I would just like to say that if you have been trained to stand still when a flare has been shot up in the sky, don`t, do as the Brits do, drop to the ground! Cheers!
I like to think that this book might not have even been written were it not for Jacks wife Thereas and family for saving all letters Jack wrote home and news articles from local papers about him. If it were not for Mr. Stephen Devitos interest in some photo and a call to Jack, his story were not have been told.
With that I would just like to say that if you have been trained to stand still when a flare has been shot up in the sky, don`t, do as the Brits do, drop to the ground! Cheers!
January 27, 2019
Fighting with the Filthy Thirteen
Not quite as much "action" as some war remembrances, but the honest stories admitting transgressions about how the war was actually fought,with all of the warts and some abuses of troops and others. The plain unvarnished truth is quite refreshing to read. I heard many war stories hidden behind the sofa when the WWW1 & 2 vets talked late @ night after barbecue and football. Their stories were more like the ones in the book, not chocolate covered.
KINDLE CUSTOMER WARD
Not quite as much "action" as some war remembrances, but the honest stories admitting transgressions about how the war was actually fought,with all of the warts and some abuses of troops and others. The plain unvarnished truth is quite refreshing to read. I heard many war stories hidden behind the sofa when the WWW1 & 2 vets talked late @ night after barbecue and football. Their stories were more like the ones in the book, not chocolate covered.
KINDLE CUSTOMER WARD
December 8, 2019
This book doesn't hold any punches. The descriptions of what Sgt. Jack Womer experienced are well thought out, well written, and flow in a logical order. WWII has to be one of the toughest wars ever fought by any military personnel. The book starts by going into Jack's childhood during the depression and ends with him describing how he was living towards the end of his life and even goes into some "Shell Shock" acknowledgments. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in World History, War History, American History, and anyone interested in memoirs.
April 2, 2024
Great Book that needs to be read!
Seeing the WWII through the eyes of one who didn't just live through it, but actually fought and survived to share the valuable lessons learned is a must read! If we forget the sacrifices made, we are doomed to repeat the horror of war. Never forget!
Seeing the WWII through the eyes of one who didn't just live through it, but actually fought and survived to share the valuable lessons learned is a must read! If we forget the sacrifices made, we are doomed to repeat the horror of war. Never forget!
May 15, 2018
Excellent Memoir
An engaging and candid memoir of a Ranger and later paratrooper who saw action in Normandy, Holland and Bastogne. Details include his youth, pre war service and training prior to going overseas. A truly engaging read from a veteran who survived the war.
An engaging and candid memoir of a Ranger and later paratrooper who saw action in Normandy, Holland and Bastogne. Details include his youth, pre war service and training prior to going overseas. A truly engaging read from a veteran who survived the war.
June 10, 2018
Great tale of American Soldier
This is a well written book detailing a mans life from the beginning of WW II to the end of the war. It will hold your interest from beginning to end.
This is a well written book detailing a mans life from the beginning of WW II to the end of the war. It will hold your interest from beginning to end.
June 19, 2018
Touching
Sad. All wars are terrible. Someone has said that there is no such a thing as a good war and a bad peace. I wish that was true in a world staffed by warring men. This book is Well-narrated and reports a very real and touching slice of the horrific WW2.
Sad. All wars are terrible. Someone has said that there is no such a thing as a good war and a bad peace. I wish that was true in a world staffed by warring men. This book is Well-narrated and reports a very real and touching slice of the horrific WW2.
August 9, 2019
World war II
I loved this book and was amazed at how close it follows the series, " Band of Brothers " . Of course the book is the true story. I am thankful everyday to live in a free country and for the time I served my country.
I loved this book and was amazed at how close it follows the series, " Band of Brothers " . Of course the book is the true story. I am thankful everyday to live in a free country and for the time I served my country.
July 9, 2023
This Veteran will not forget our WWII Veterans
The book was written in such a way that I felt like was sitting with Jack, and he was telling me about his life, while drinking ice tea.
The book was written in such a way that I felt like was sitting with Jack, and he was telling me about his life, while drinking ice tea.
March 5, 2020
It was fine. Nothing earth-shattering.
January 2, 2013
Travel with Jack Womer from the steel mills of Dundalk, Maryland through his being drafted (which he resented) and assigned to the 29th Infantry Division to his deployment to England. Experience with him his selection to and the nearly yearlong training with the British commandos as a member of the 29th’s elite Provisional Ranger battalion. You will learn how he joined the 101st Airborne Division after the disbanding of 29th Ranger Battalion.
You will meet the group of demolitionist he joined in the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment’s demolition platoon as they fight in Normandy, Holland, the Ardennes and Germany. The detail of the combat jump into Normandy gives you the sensation of being there as well as showing the confusion on the group. Wormer shares examples how his Ranger training helped him survive in combat. Unfortunately, he does not share the same level of detail in the campaigns following Normandy.
Co-author Stephen Devito did a great job of interviewing Wormer and putting his stories into a first person narrative. The book gives the feel of a veteran telling the actions of his youth.
Wormer shares how he and other soldiers had girlfriends when in England, but his heart yearned to return to the United States and his fiancée Theresa. A side note I enjoyed was the story of how he asked Theresa for a new picture and she refused. He told the story of his desire for a replacement picture. The press picked up the story. The Baltimore newspaper carried the story. We see his fiancée Theresa’s response/reactions.
The book’s title “The Filthy Thirteen” is the nick-name of the section in the 506th's demolition platoon that Wormer was assigned. It operated/used special equipment like flame-throwers and explosives to attack and clear German positions. These men were infamous for hard living, tough fighting, and poor personal hygiene that earned them their name. The claim is made that The Filthy was an inspiration for the film the Dirty Dozen.
I recommend this well-written and interesting book.
You will meet the group of demolitionist he joined in the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment’s demolition platoon as they fight in Normandy, Holland, the Ardennes and Germany. The detail of the combat jump into Normandy gives you the sensation of being there as well as showing the confusion on the group. Wormer shares examples how his Ranger training helped him survive in combat. Unfortunately, he does not share the same level of detail in the campaigns following Normandy.
Co-author Stephen Devito did a great job of interviewing Wormer and putting his stories into a first person narrative. The book gives the feel of a veteran telling the actions of his youth.
Wormer shares how he and other soldiers had girlfriends when in England, but his heart yearned to return to the United States and his fiancée Theresa. A side note I enjoyed was the story of how he asked Theresa for a new picture and she refused. He told the story of his desire for a replacement picture. The press picked up the story. The Baltimore newspaper carried the story. We see his fiancée Theresa’s response/reactions.
The book’s title “The Filthy Thirteen” is the nick-name of the section in the 506th's demolition platoon that Wormer was assigned. It operated/used special equipment like flame-throwers and explosives to attack and clear German positions. These men were infamous for hard living, tough fighting, and poor personal hygiene that earned them their name. The claim is made that The Filthy was an inspiration for the film the Dirty Dozen.
I recommend this well-written and interesting book.
April 14, 2018
I tried to read the other and better-known book on The Filthy Thirteen, but put it down after about 50 pages. I'm sure there's an audience for a dude bragging about his fist-fights, disdain for military life, and being a pain in the ass to his chain of command. Jack Womer's narrative in "Fighting..." is a better experience, in my opinion, because I can find more empathy for a guy who went from the steel mill to the army and worked hard to be a reliable member of the team in the awful circumstances of D-Day and Market Garden. I also found his honesty most welcome. When he and his unit rolled into Germany they looted and broke a lot of local property. You can read about that in Rick Atkinson's superb trilogy on America's participation in the ETO, so it wasn't a big surprise. Hearing it in the first-person, though, is a bit more gritty. Regardless, it wasn't nearly as nasty as the way the Soviets raped and killed their way through the half of the Third Reich they conquered. The book could use some maps; and there are some typos--but the story deserves a second edition, so those gripes can be rectified pretty easily. Again, it's a good story, it's honest, and it jibes nicely with the "Band of Brothers" history. Worth a read.
December 17, 2013
I really enjoyed the story and the history of this man's fight during WWII. A lot of details were included that I have rarely seen in other WWII biographies. My only reason for rating this 4 stars has to do with the author and issues with his writing skills. I read the kindle version and perhaps many of the problems can be related to the transcription. However, there were numerous problems with grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization of proper nouns and at the beginning of sentences, continuity, and the improper use of me vs. I. I had a hard time reading through much of the book because of these issues. A little professional editing goes a long way and would be very beneficial to this book. Nonetheless I am glad I had the chance to read it and hear of another great hero of the war.
May 18, 2014
Hard to put down at times, this is an excellent book written in the way Jack Womer, I believe, actually spoke and thought at the time.
The story of how the book was written as well as Jack's experiences are well represented to the point that I understood what compelled the Jack and Steve to do what they did.
This book is as nitty gritty as it gets, in fact, if you have listened to veterans tell their stories, this book rings true. I would like to thank both Jack and Steve for telling the story.
The story of how the book was written as well as Jack's experiences are well represented to the point that I understood what compelled the Jack and Steve to do what they did.
This book is as nitty gritty as it gets, in fact, if you have listened to veterans tell their stories, this book rings true. I would like to thank both Jack and Steve for telling the story.
April 10, 2019
This book is a must read it is a recall of all of Jack Womer`s life from the draft. The book ends with his call to make sure all those who survived the war and those who never came home are never forgotten. and will always be remembered by old and young, the cost of freedom.
June 10, 2012
Excellent account of WWIi ranger and paratrooper, Jack Womer's activity with the Filthy Thirteen. Also gives poignant account of his life before and after the war.
October 11, 2012
Good first person account from a Airborne soldier on his impressive career during WWII in the Rangers and in 101 Airborne.
June 13, 2020
The war as it was
A first person narrative of a GI Joe, lucky to have survived D-Day, a Bridge Too Far, and Bastogne in plaintalk.
A first person narrative of a GI Joe, lucky to have survived D-Day, a Bridge Too Far, and Bastogne in plaintalk.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews