The ‘Reject’ Who Stopped 700 Germans — After the Army Tried to Kick Him Out 8 Times
In the early hours of June 9, 1944, during the chaos of World War II, Corporal Jake McNiss found himself facing an impossible situation. With only 35 exhausted paratroopers under his command, he stood against a German force of 700 soldiers, all while the only bridge to escape had just been destroyed by American planes. The odds were stacked against him, but Jake was not one to back down easily.
As the sun rose over the battlefield, a German officer approached under a white flag—not to surrender, but to demand that Jake and his men give up. The officer believed the fight was already won. However, Jake, with his mohawk haircut and war paint smeared across his face, looked at the officer and replied defiantly, “If you want it, come take it.” This moment would mark the beginning of an extraordinary stand that would leave over 100 German soldiers dead or wounded, while Jake’s men suffered zero casualties.
A Troubled Beginning
Before Jake McNiss ever faced the German onslaught, he had already spent years battling a different enemy: the U.S. Army itself. Not because he was a traitor or lazy, but because he held a steadfast belief that he would only follow orders that made sense. This philosophy often put him at odds with military hierarchy.
Born in Oklahoma during the Great Depression, Jake was the son of a farmer in a large family of ten children. Life was hard, and survival depended on hard work and resourcefulness. By the age of 19, Jake was already a firefighter, running into burning buildings while many of his peers were still figuring out how to navigate adulthood. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Jake didn’t wait for a draft notice; he enlisted in the Army, drawn not by patriotism but by a desire for action and explosives.
After basic training at Fort Benning, Jake’s rebellious nature quickly surfaced. His first encounter with military discipline came when a staff sergeant stole his butter ration. Jake warned him to stop laughing at his expense, but when the sergeant ignored him, Jake punched him square in the nose. This incident should have ended his military career, but instead, it highlighted a peculiar contradiction: every time he got into trouble, he also achieved something remarkable.
The Rise of the Filthy Thirteen
Despite his disciplinary issues, Jake’s exceptional skills as a marksman and his impressive physical abilities saved him from being discharged. Instead of kicking him out, the Army decided to isolate him, giving him his own platoon—one filled with other misfits who had been deemed too troublesome to fit into regular units. This group became known as the “Filthy Thirteen,” a band of outcasts who excelled in combat despite their chaotic nature.
Jake’s leadership style was unorthodox. He didn’t care for military formalities; instead, he focused on building a team of effective fighters. The Filthy Thirteen trained hard, running longer distances, carrying heavier loads, and developing a camaraderie that transcended traditional military discipline. They became a pack, bound not by salutes and protocols but by a shared understanding: be exceptional at your job or get out.
As Jake’s reputation grew, so did the Army’s frustration. They wanted to control him but couldn’t deny his effectiveness. Every time they tried to discipline him, he proved them wrong with his performance. The Filthy Thirteen consistently outperformed other units in marksmanship and physical endurance, even while ignoring the very rules that were meant to govern them.
The D-Day Jump
When the time came for the D-Day invasion, Jake and his men were ready. They had trained hard, and their reputation as a fierce fighting unit preceded them. As they boarded their C-47 transport plane, they were painted like warriors, ready for the fight of their lives. But fate had other plans.
The plane was hit by German flak, and in the chaos of the explosion, Jake was thrown from the aircraft. He landed in a flooded marsh, soaked and disoriented, but alive. With the determination that had characterized his military career, Jake quickly gathered his surviving men and formulated a plan to capture a crucial bridge in Chef Dupont.
A Desperate Stand
With only nine men, Jake faced overwhelming odds. The Germans were regrouping, and the situation looked dire. Yet, Jake had a plan. He understood the terrain and quickly set up defensive positions, preparing for the inevitable German assault. As the Germans advanced, they were met with fierce resistance from Jake’s men, who had positioned themselves perfectly to maximize their firepower.
The first wave of German soldiers fell victim to Jake’s strategy, and the American defenders held their ground. Wave after wave of German infantry charged the hill, only to be met with disciplined fire from Jake’s men. They fought with precision and determination, and the Germans began to realize that they were losing to a much smaller force.
The Turning Point
By the end of the day, Jake’s defense had become legendary. Over 100 German soldiers were dead or wounded, while Jake’s men had suffered no casualties. The Germans, frustrated and demoralized, could not break through the defenses that Jake had expertly crafted.
Jake’s success was not merely due to luck; it was a result of his understanding of warfare and his ability to adapt to the situation. He had transformed his ragtag group of misfits into a formidable fighting force, proving that discipline and obedience were not the only paths to victory.
The Aftermath
When the battle was over, and reinforcements arrived, Jake’s name began to circulate among the higher-ups in the Army. His actions had not only saved lives but had also turned the tide in a critical battle. Yet, despite his heroics, Jake remained humble. He didn’t seek fame or recognition; he simply wanted to do his job and protect his men.
However, the Army had a difficult time reconciling Jake’s unorthodox methods with their traditional military structure. They knew they had a hero on their hands, but they also struggled to control him. Jake’s reputation as a troublemaker followed him throughout his service, and the Army continued to grapple with how to handle a soldier who defied convention yet achieved extraordinary results.
A New Life
After the war, Jake returned to Oklahoma, where he tried to reintegrate into civilian life. The transition was not easy. The horrors of war lingered in his mind, and he struggled with the memories of what he had witnessed. He turned to alcohol to cope, but eventually, he realized that he needed to change his life.
With determination, Jake quit drinking and focused on building a family. He married Mary Catherine, a local girl, and together they raised three children. Jake never spoke about his wartime experiences, wanting to shield his family from the violence and chaos he had endured. Instead, he embraced a quiet life, working at the post office and coaching little league.
Legacy of a Soldier
Jake McNiss passed away in 2013 at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy that few knew about. He had been a soldier who defied the odds, a man who turned a group of misfits into a formidable fighting force, and a hero who had saved countless lives. But to Jake, these accomplishments were not what defined him. He wanted to be remembered as a farmer, a family man, and a soldier who did his duty.
His story serves as a powerful reminder of the complexities of war and the individuals who shape its course. Jake McNiss was not just a soldier; he was a testament to the idea that sometimes, the most unconventional methods can lead to extraordinary outcomes. In a world where obedience is often valued over creativity, Jake’s story challenges us to rethink what it means to be a hero.
As we reflect on the life of Jake McNiss, we are reminded that behind every statistic, every battle, and every victory, lies a story of resilience, determination, and the enduring human spirit. His legacy lives on, not just in the annals of military history, but in the hearts of those who value courage, ingenuity, and the unwavering desire to protect one’s own.
