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Warriors In Their Own Words | First Person War Stories

Dropping Into Bastogne: Pfc. John Agnew

Warriors In Their Own Words | First Person War Stories

Robert Kirk

History

4.6675 Ratings

🗓️ 7 November 2024

⏱️ 26 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Private First Class John Agnew served in World War II as a Paratrooper and Pathfinder. Pathfinders were paratroopers that dropped into enemy territory first, tasked with setting up signals that would direct the rest of the paratrooper fleet into the correct landing zones. Since they were often the first soldiers sent across enemy lines, this was an incredibly dangerous job. As a Pathfinder Pilot, it was Pedone’s job to fly the Pathfinders into enemy territory. Agnew parachuted into Normandy on D-Day as a member of the Filthy Thirteen, a paratrooper demolition squad that became notorious for their insubordination and their signature look, that included Native American style warpaint and mohawks. They later inspired the movie The Dirty Dozen. Out of 20 men, Agnew was one of four from his unit that survived D-Day. Agnew, along with half of the surviving members of the Filthy Thirteen, joined the Pathfinders. He fought in the Siege of Bastogne, the Rhine River Crossings, and Operation Market Garden with the Pathfinders. He later also served in Vietnam. In this interview, Agnew describes the Siege of Bastogne and The Filthy Thirteen.  Learn more about Agnew here. Check out the Documentary.tv YouTube Channel to see incredible stories like this combined with rare, authentic battlefield footage to create riveting film documentaries. Editor’s Note: ‘Private First Class’ refers to Agnew’s rank during the Siege of Bastogne. His rank by the time of his retirement is unknown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

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One membership per year, participating cinemas, two standard tickets only cheap as free.

0:29.3

T's and Cs apply. I'm Ken Harbaugh, host of Warriors in Their Own Words.

0:46.0

In partnership with the Honor Project, we've brought this podcast back at a time when our nation needs these stories more than ever.

0:53.6

Warriors in Their Own words is our attempt

0:55.6

to present an unvarnished, unsanitized truth of what we have asked of those who defend this

1:00.9

nation. Thank you for listening, and by doing so honoring those who have served. Today, we'll hear

1:08.0

from Private First Class John Agnew. Agnew jumped into Normandy with the Filthy 13, a paratrooper demolition squad that became

1:15.6

notorious for their insubordination and their signature look that included Native American

1:20.9

style war paint and mohawks. Agnew then joined the Pathfinders fighting in the Siege of

1:26.3

Bastogne, the Rhine River

1:27.5

Crossings, and Operation Market Garden.

1:30.7

In this interview, Agnew describes the Siege of Bastone and the Filthy 13.

1:37.3

Initially, when the Pathfinders were formed, that was the way for all the first sergeants

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