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

Jack Womer provides a firsthand account of his service as a member of the Filthy Thirteen, a squad within the 101st Airborne Division's Screaming Eagles. Originally enlisted in the 29th Rangers, Womer transferred to the Screaming Eagles after his unit was dissolved, joining a squad known for its rowdy reputation. Beginning with the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944, Womer describes the squad's combat experiences across Europe, including operations in Holland and the Battle of the Bulge. Despite their troublemaking in England, the Filthy Thirteen proved effective against German forces as the Screaming Eagles advanced through occupied territory. Written with Stephen DeVito, this memoir offers a direct account of close-quarters combat in Europe and the experiences of American soldiers moving through multiple countries in their conflict with the Wehrmacht, concluding with operations in Hitler's German stronghold. The narrative addresses the realities of warfare while documenting the squad's year of intense fighting at the forefront of the Allied advance.