THE DIRTY DOZEN

In a fictional WW II story set in 1944 on the eve of the Allied D – Day invasion of Normandy, twelve American convicts set out as a special military unit on a pre – invasion kill and destroy mission in Rennes, north – western France. They had virtually no military experience and nothing in common except convictions for criminal offenses. For the twelve men, it was a mission to prove their worth as soldiers as well as a journey to find redemption. And for some of them it was a chance to escape justice. Director Robert Aldrich found his big score in assembling twelve of the greatest names (Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, George Kennedy, Lee Marvin, Telly Savalas, Donald Sutherland, and football Hall of Famer Jim Brown, to mention just a few) in Hollywood’s history to star in The Dirty Dozen (1967). The mission of “The Dirty Dozen” was a suicide mission from the onset. Landing in France, they discovered themselves short one man; Jimenez broke his neck in the parachute jump and most of the others were killed by snipers and German soldiers counter – attacking. 

The original Dirty Dozen were neither Americans nor were they Hollywood actors but twelve rugged Jewish men mostly from the Galilean region of Israel. Their mission was not to kill and destroy but rather to seek and to save [Luke 19: 10]. They were handpicked, trained, empowered, armed not with guns but with conviction, then turned loose in an unprecedented search and rescue mission. For the original Dirty Dozen from Galilee, death was certain in a lost world not ready for rescue. Despite finding themselves short one man even before their mission began, they were not deterred; armed with conviction, courage, and the Gospel of Christ, they turned the world upside down [Acts 17: 6].
Just in case you were wondering what really happened to the original Dirty Dozen. Judas Iscariot – succumbed to the enemy’s bullet even before the mission began [Matthew 27: 5]. Bartholomew – was crucified execution style and was buried in Allanum, a town in Armenia [modern day southern Georgia]. James, son of Alphaeus – like Stephen, was stoned to death by the Jews while preaching in Jerusalem. James, son of Zebedee – was executed by Herod [Acts 12: 1, 2]. John, brother of James – banished by Domitian to the Isle of Patmos and later died in Ephesus. Matthew (Levi) – died near Parthia [near modern day Tehran]. Simon Peter – was crucified execution style with his head downward in Rome under Nero. Philip – was also crucified execution style in Hierapolis in the time of Domitian. Simon the Zealot – died in Jerusalem and was buried there. Thaddeus – preached all over Mesopotamia and died in Berytus. Thomas – was thrust through with a pine spear execution style at Calamene, a city in India, and was buried there. “Other believers were brutally tortured but refused to be released so that they might gain eternal life. Some were made fun of and whipped, and some were chained and put in prison. Some were stoned to death, sawed in half, and killed with swords” [Heb 11:35-37]. 
 For the original Dirty Dozen, in completing a mission, they started a movement. Missions end but movements don’t. And just in case you are still trying to figure out the connection between Robert Aldrich's "Dirty Dozen" and the Twelve Apostles. It is simply the number 12. And as always, I am praying that you discover life the way God intends.


K. George Olubodun