James “Jake” McNiece, 506th PIR pathfinder and leader of "The Filthy Thirteen," crosses over to meet his Maker.

Clarence C. Ware and Charles R. Plaudo of "The Filthy Thirteen" painting each other's faces on the afternoon of June 5, 1944

James “Jake” McNiece has died. Leader of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment's Pathfinders, dubbed "The Filthy Thirteen," McNiece and his men were parachuted into France on the night before D-Day to blow up bridges over the Douve River. McNeice's 18 men destroyed two bridges and controlled 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 days after D-Day, during which they were also tasked with cutting enemy communications and supply lines.

From the Daily Oklahoman:

McNiece never achieved a rank higher than first sergeant because he had trouble with regulations and extending his leaves without permission. He was a sergeant in combat but usually was demoted to private for his behavior between missions.

The paratroopers in his squadron often showed a reluctance to follow military regulations and procedures, and his outfit became known as the “Filthy 13.”

The D-Day jump was the first of four jumps McNiece made behind enemy lines. Before the mission, he shaved most of his head, leaving a scalp lock that ran down the middle of his head. He joked to his squadron it was an American Indian custom to do that before battle, but he really shaved his head for sanitary reasons to avoid lice, realizing he could spend days without bathing. Most other squadron members shaved their heads also.

By dawn on June 6, McNiece and his squad had destroyed their two assigned bridges and had a third wired for detonation. Their orders were to hold the bridge over the (Douve) River and save it if possible so advancing Allied troops and tanks could use it. His men held the bridge for three days until American warplanes swooped down and bombed the structure.

In September 1944, McNiece led paratroopers who were dropped near Eindhoven, Holland, to hold key bridges in the liberation of the town the Germans had occupied for five years.

After fighting 78 days in Holland . . . He led paratroopers at Bastogne, Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge. His last jump was Feb. 13, 1945, near Prume, Germany, to resupply Gen. George Patton’s 3rd Army.