If you had a TV growing up, you probally saw the movie The Dirty Dozen. During a genre of war movies that Hollywoodized the war, this movie did stretch the truth and add its own twist to the real story, but the ending was not as happy as most movies. It depicted a group of army criminals who were in the stocks for horrible crimes, most of which were murder. All were under the death penelty but were told that if they served with honor, their records would be cleared and if they survived, they would regain their previous rank and return to active duty. Some simply kept to their old criminal nature, others showed they had made a change in their life and served with honor. Well enough with the plot of this movie as you have probally already seen it, but if you have not seen it, rent it.

John “Jack” Agnew American Hero dies

John Agnew was one of the filthy thirteen whose exploits were somewhat used to base the movie on. While these men were known for their heavy drinking and constant fighting, none were convicted felons and none were under the death penelty for murder. But what they were was brave men who were dropped behind enemy lines prior to the Battle of the Bulge where they directed supply planes and disrupted enemy operations. They captured enemy officers, which was somewhat portrayed in the movie, and just prior to the D-Day invasion, they parachuted behind enemy lines in order to capture a strategic bridge over the Douve River in France, a mission that would cost most of the men their lives.

Mr Agnew died and America lost a great hero. But while his service was beyond the ordinary, it was not the exception. He was one of many that have served this country in hellish wars and they are all our heros!