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'Dirty Dozen' Hero From Oklahoma Has Died.
The Daily Oklahoman ^ | January 21, 2013 | Michael McNutt

Posted on 01/21/2013 12:49:47 PM PST by Osage Orange

'Dirty Dozen' hero from Oklahoma has died.

James “Jake” McNiece led a World War II group hours before the June 6, 1944, invasion to destroy bridges to prevent German reinforcements from moving into Normandy.

By Michael McNutt

| Published: January 21, 2013

James “Jake” McNiece, the leader of a World War II group that came to be known as the “Dirty Dozen,” died Monday, family members said. He was 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 movie “The Dirty Dozen.”

Hours before the June 6, 1944, invasion, McNiece led 18 paratroopers 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.

In September, he was presented France's most prestigious decoration during a ceremony at the state Capitol nearly 70 years after he led a squad of paratroopers behind enemy lines in that country to support the D-Day invasion.

Funeral arrangements are pending and are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home in Ponca City.


TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: dday; france; germany; mohawks; oklahoma; paratrooper
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Watch the video at the link.......

You will be glad you did!

A real hero....

1 posted on 01/21/2013 12:49:53 PM PST by Osage Orange
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To: Osage Orange

BFL, never knew the movie was based on real heroes.


2 posted on 01/21/2013 12:57:34 PM PST by Chipper (You can't kill an Obamazombie by destroying the brain...they didn't have one to begin with.)
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To: Chipper

Roosevelt reall made a gutsy call sending this guys in......


3 posted on 01/21/2013 1:00:15 PM PST by wny
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To: wny

Gutsy for the guys he ordered in, not himself personally.


4 posted on 01/21/2013 1:03:01 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
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To: Osage Orange

Was he the Lee Marvin guy?


5 posted on 01/21/2013 1:09:01 PM PST by Cowboy Bob (Soon the "invisible hand" will press the economic "reset" button.)
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To: Osage Orange
Yeah, that was worth watching. Guys like him can deny it all they want to but they're heroes too.

Wild bunch they had there. Only four survived the mission.

6 posted on 01/21/2013 1:30:54 PM PST by TigersEye (Stupid is a Progressive disease.)
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To: Osage Orange
commanded a group of rough men nicknamed “The Filthy 13,”

Then he joined the Post Office.

I'm guessing he had gotten about as much excitement as he cared to have in one lifetime RIP Sir

7 posted on 01/21/2013 2:07:47 PM PST by TalBlack (Evil doesn't have a day job.)
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To: TalBlack
I guessed like you guessed...........

Indeed...RIP, Sir!

8 posted on 01/21/2013 2:15:14 PM PST by Osage Orange (MOLON LABE)
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To: TigersEye
I liked the MoHawks and the face painting..........

I'm guessing Mr. McNiece...had some interaction with some Ponca City natives.

Many of my Aunts and Uncles...went to Indian School...not too far from Ponca City.

9 posted on 01/21/2013 2:25:03 PM PST by Osage Orange (MOLON LABE)
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To: alfa6; SAMWolf; snippy_about_it

Ping


10 posted on 01/21/2013 2:37:24 PM PST by Professional Engineer (So long and thanks for all the lutefisk.)
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To: Osage Orange

Yeah, that’s pretty wild for the era. Imagine the surprise and confusion the German soldiers had when they got a close look at those guys.


11 posted on 01/21/2013 2:46:51 PM PST by TigersEye (Stupid is a Progressive disease.)
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To: Osage Orange
Glad I had the chance to see this video. This man and the others were true men of steel.

I also did not know that the movie "Dirty Dozen" was based on a operation carried out during WW-II. God Bless this man, and may he RIP.

Although late, I wish to extend a Big Thank you for your service to this country.

12 posted on 01/21/2013 2:58:53 PM PST by Stanwood_Dave ("Testilying." Cop's don't lie, they just Testily{ing} as taught in their respected Police Academy.)
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To: Osage Orange
James “Jake” McNiece, the leader of a World War II group that came to be known as the “Dirty Dozen”...
McNiece commanded a group of rough men nicknamed “The Filthy 13"...
Sixteen of his men were killed during the 36-day mission...

Whatever the actual numbers were, it's a great story about great men, from an era when America was still great.
RIP

13 posted on 01/21/2013 2:59:07 PM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: Osage Orange

Well now....Didn’t the guy who’s parachute got entangled on the steeple, during that same raid, also just die in the past week or two?

Different movie?
Different raid?


14 posted on 01/21/2013 3:18:49 PM PST by G Larry (Which of Obama's policies do you think I'd support if he were white?)
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To: G Larry
Well now....Didn’t the guy who’s parachute got entangled on the steeple, during that same raid, also just die in the past week or two?

The Red Buttons character in "The Longest Day"?

15 posted on 01/21/2013 3:20:06 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Thanks Osage Orange.
Hours before the June 6, 1944, invasion, McNiece led 18 paratroopers 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.
Wow.


16 posted on 01/21/2013 3:29:04 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: G Larry

That’s from “The Longest Day”, if we’re thinking of the same scene.


17 posted on 01/21/2013 3:32:38 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: SeaDragon; RikaStrom

I did not know that the Dirty Dozen was based on real heros.

ping


18 posted on 01/21/2013 3:33:41 PM PST by RikaStrom ("To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize." ~Voltaire)
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To: Osage Orange

If anyone wants to read the story try “The Filthy Thirteen” by Richard Killblane with Jake McNiece. (Casemate, 2003)
I never met Jake but Richard is a friend.


19 posted on 01/21/2013 4:06:49 PM PST by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink)
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To: G Larry
Yes, Red Buttons in The Longest Day, playing an 82nd Division Paratrooper who was dropped right on top of a town called St. Mere Eglise, IIRC.

They were supposed to be dropped outside of town...

Part of the same operation - D-Day.

20 posted on 01/21/2013 4:07:41 PM PST by OKSooner ("The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen." - Revelation 22:21)
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