Soldier Story WWII 101st Airborne: Jake McNiece Preview

Soldier Story has announced their next boxed figure set, the D-Day 66th Anniversary Set, WWII 101st Airborne: Jack McNiece from the "Filthy 13" (ETA July 2010) - the original person who inspired the Mohawk look in modern warfare.

The Filthy Thirteen was the name given to a sub-unit of the regimental headquarters of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, of the United States Army, which fought in the European campaign in World War II. This unit was selected and trained to demolish enemy targets behind the lines. They were assigned to destroy a bridge over the Douve River during the Normandy Invasion of Europe in June 1944, a mission that cost the lives of most of these men. The group was airdropped for the mission by aircraft of the 440th Troop Carrier Group of the U.S. Army Air Force.

This unit was best known for the famous photo which appeared in Stars and Stripes, showing two members wearing Indian-style "mohawks" and applying war paint to one another. The inspiration for this came from Jake McNiece, who was part Native-American.

This Soldier Story 1/6 scale 12-inch WWII US Army 101st Airborne: Jake McNiece military action figure comes LOADED with all the gear imaginable, including the parachute rig with Mae West life vest for him to jump out of the C-47 to completing his mission on the ground.

Many believe this unit was the inspiration for E.M. Nathanson's "The Dirty Dozen". Unlike the Dirty Dozen, the Filthy Thirteen were not convicts; however, they were men prone to drinking and fighting and often spent time in the stockade. The name "Filthy 13" referred to the fact that while training in England, they washed and shaved once a week and never cleaned their uniforms.