Amazon.com.au:Customer reviews: Fighting with the Filthy Thirteen: The World War II Story of Jack Womer

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I must confess that I read the book pretty much in one sitting

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 June 2017

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Well written and interesting in the way that it portrays the realities of war without trying to whitewash it too much. I must confess that I read the book pretty much in one sitting. Still, afterwards I cannot say I liked the book that much. Strange perhaps but that's how it is.

A must-read for people that are interested in all aspects of WWII. It's not much action but well written and portrays a young man and his reactions to what happened to him in the war.

nick jordan

Recommended

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 July 2020

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All good

Réal Desmarets

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 October 2016

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lovet it

william betts

a book for 101st A/B

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 October 2013

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this is a book u will not put down go and buy it you will love it then go to Normandie and see .

Rychefan

Great read!

Reviewed in the United States on 12 August 2018

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Let me first say that this book is not always grammatically correct. So all of you spelling fanatics need to chill. But what this book does is tell the story of Jack Womer and his experiences in WWII. IMO, his recollection is totally believable and accurate. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as Jack is a "Just get the job done and don't always take what the manual says as gospel" type of soldier.
I thank Steven DeVito for having the guts to make the first telephone call and, obviously, for Mr. Womer to agree to tell his story.
I think the issues in America today, with all of the youth demanding everything for free and being butt-hurt and offended - then using that as an excuse for their lack of accountability - has stemmed from the fact that history is rarely taught in schools anymore. Americans NEED to read these stories, be aware of where their freedoms come from and what the cost was to their (great) grandparents in order to achieve that freedom.
Excellent account of one man's WWII experiences!

12 people found this helpful

Jim, Stuart, FL

Serving with the 101st airborne in WWII

Reviewed in the United States on 12 July 2020

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This is an excellent first-person story by SGT Jack Womer of his combat training as an Army Ranger later assigned to the 101st Airborne Division in WWII. He participated in all the major battles from parachuting into Normandy on the D Day landings to the St. Lo breakout to operation Market-Garden in September 1944 to Belgium, the Battle of the Bulge and finally to the end of the war in Germany. Although he was not in the same company as the Band of Brothers he was in the same division, so anyone familiar with that book will recognize the battles that Womer describes. It is interesting that Womer's rigorous training as a Ranger probably not only contributed to saving his own life but also the lives of many of his fellow soldiers as well. This is another great book by a WWII soldier to remind all of us why we must respect and never forget the debts we owe to America's Greatest Generation.

One person found this helpful

Toe Tag

The cleanest man in the Filthy Thirteen

Reviewed in the United States on 6 October 2015

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The author of this book ends it in a most curious way. He tells us the reason he wrote this book is so future generations will not forget his generation.

I don’t think he should worry about any of us forgetting him or his generation. His book is the kind that will be read a hundred years from now because it is an uncommonly good read.

The author first starts off in the 29th Infantry Division in a musical. Yes, a musical, but Pearl Harbor ended that recruiting technique.

He then volunteers for extremely dangerous work as an Army Ranger. Sadly the 29th disbanded this highly technical unit before D-Day. The author volunteered for the 101st Airborne.

Ironically, a non-drinking man who does not smoke, is attached to the demolition unit known as The Filthy Thirteen. He was the only man in his unit who didn’t shave his hair into a Mohawk and paint himself like an “Indian” before the assault on Normandy.

His descriptions of his actions in Normandy are excellent as are his descriptions of every other battle the 101st experienced in the war.
In particularly I enjoyed reading about how he used his training as a Ranger to rescue a large number of paratroopers who landed in a swampy area of Normandy. Many readers may not know the Germans flooded the region in hopes of slowing down vehicles and killing paratroopers.

I truly enjoyed this book. I learned a lot of things I didn’t know. And even had a laugh when the author described how he parachuted with a flame thrower during a training exercise. He never carried one in combat but had a lot of fun with in training.

However, if you want to learn more about paratroopers in World War Two, I would strongly suggest reading the entire four book series written by Don Burgett. The author’s book Currahee!: A Screaming Eagle at Normandy is a classic. His book on Bastogne is nothing less that stunning.
I would also suggest reading Band of Bothers by Steven Ambros, All the Way to Berlin by James Megellas, not to be confused with On to Berlin: Battles of an Airborne Commander 1943-1946 by James M. Gavin.

Both books are worth reading. I would also suggest The Simple Sounds of Freedom by Joseph Beyrle and Parachute Infantry by David Webster.

11 people found this helpful

Steve K.

Great read from a true American war hero.

Reviewed in the United States on 23 May 2014

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I really enjoyed this book and I won't cover what most of the reviewers have. It was very interesting to read Jack's stories from depression era America, to his training as a Ranger and to his transfer to the 506th PIR. Lots of very unique observations and experiences that one may not expect in a WWII book. What bothered me from the very beginning is that the author says that he removed all of the profanity as Jack is a "very profane man". What the hell? Most all soldiers are profane, they always have been and will most likely always be! So it bothered me that this was sanitized in this manner. I think the author could have allowed some profanity as It would have added more context and personality (not to mention humor!) to certain situations. Also, as some other reviewers have noted, some passages are repeated in the book. This is something the editor should have caught. These two reasons are why I did not give it a full 5 stars - but to Jack and the rest of the men who fought and died for our freedom, I give 100 stars. May you rest in peace Jack and may the souls you lost in life find you in the after-life.

5 people found this helpful

A. E. Wentworth

A great account of Jack Womer's view of his war with The Filthy Thirteen

Reviewed in the United States on 6 August 2013

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Womer and DeVito have written an excellent account of Jack Womer's experiences of being a reluctant draftee during WWII. Jack in no way paints himself as the hero that he and his mates of Headquarters Company, Demolition Section, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne Division were fighting the war that saved the world as we have come to know it.

The exploits of the 101st Division (Airborne)during the war continue to be documented and for us interested in the war and the men and women who fought it, every book that comes out about the division is a must read.

The book is a very fast read and I found myself reading more than the usual one chapter per night that I allow myself to unwind. Jack's point of view is well handled by DeVito and yes as a previous reviewer noted there are some editing over sights and errors. Ensuing printings will correct this but it in no way takes away from Womer's story. We are indebted to Jack Womer and every other soldier, sailor, airman and marine who served during WWII.

Get it and read it! You'll be glad you did.

3 people found this helpful

mbb666

ONE OF THE BEST!!!!!!!

Reviewed in the United States on 30 July 2012

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This book is hands downs one of the best WWII books that I have read. Jack Womer does an incredible job at not only telling you about the war, but also what he was doing before and after the war, and everything in between. My grandfather was in WWII, and while he was not a paratrooper, I have heard many of the stories. Like Jack Womer, my grandfather didn't talk about the war for a long time because it was to much to deal with. I read this book in one day. I started reading on a Saturday at nine in the morning, and didn't put the book down till I finished later that night. The author does such a great job telling these stories, that the reader will find themselves in the middle of the battle. Space and time stops for the reader, and you are pulled into this book, and into the battles. This isnt giving anything away, but the last sentence of the book, is "don't forget about me", or something to that effect. Mr. Womer if you read these reviews of if anyone knows this author please let him know that I will personally never forget him. The author is a true hero who had to go through many battles, and see many of his friends pass away, at a very young age. Beyond that no matter how old you are, he saw things that no human being should have to see. Thank you Mr. Womer, and thank you to every veteran for keeping us safe, and keeping America free.

3 people found this helpful

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

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

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