Koevoet: Experiencing South Africa's Deadly Bush War - Brossura

Hooper, Jim

Brossura

ISBN 10: 0957058705 ISBN 13: 9780957058705

Casa editrice: Helion & Co Ltd, 2013

Riassunto

Koevoet! has been an global bestseller since its release over 20 years ago. This new edition goes far beyond the original in capturing the courage, fear and intensity of South Africa's deadly bush war. Never before had an outsider been given unrestricted access to Koevoet, the elite South West African Police counterinsurgency unit - also known as Operation K and officially as the South West Africa Police Counter Insurgency Unit (SWAPOL-COIN). Author Jim Hooper spent a total of five months embedded with the semi-secret and predominantly black 'Ops K', which climaxed with one of the most vicious and determined infiltrations ever mounted by the communist-backed South West Africa People s Organization (SWAPO). Crossing regularly into Angola in pursuit of the insurgents, he saw friends die next to him and was twice wounded himself. This updated edition, drawing on the recollections and diaries of the men he rode with, will fascinate yet another generation of readers. In assembling this work, Jim Hooper had the opportunity to re-connect with so many of the men who allowed this outsider to ride with them. All of which brought a new intensity and poignancy. It also reminded Jim Hooper how privileged he was to have been witness to Koevoet's war. This stunning work is a tribute to Koevoet and the legend they created."Hooper is a careful reporter, but also a born writer; his vivid word-pictures drag you in and hold you. He skillfully conveys his initially unwelcoming reception by an operational unit; the long, frustrating grind of search operations in punishing terrain and climate; the extraordinary bush skills of the Ovambo policemen; the shock of sudden contact, and its aftermath." Martin Windrow "Jim Hooper's account of South Africa's successful "Ops K" in Namibia against South West Africa's People's Organization guerrillas should be required reading. The classic narrative is as timely today as it was twenty years ago." Charles D. Melson, Chief Historian, U.S. Marine Corps University."This expanded edition is a skillfully woven mosaic of personal accounts from those involved and what he experienced during combat with Koevoet. The use of new material from those he rode with lays bare the realities of war, the fears and emotions that ebb and flow in the heat of combat, and the courage one finds to bring the battle to the enemy" Piet Nortje, Author of 32 Battalion"Koevoet describes in great detail the men, both black and white, and their mine-protected cross-country vehicles which were years ahead of anything in use by other western forces, the dedicated helicopter support units and the tactics used to bring an elusive guerrilla force to battle." Paul French, Author of Shadows of a Forgotten Past: To the Edge with the Rhodesian SAS and Selous Scouts.

Su questo libro

Recensione

Koevoet is full of detail, flavour and character Hoopers informal style of writing brings the reader immediately into the story. Engrossing and educational it is hard to stop. --British Army Review

A thrilling exposé of modern military history, and of one of Africas bloodiest conflicts. --Dan Mills, author of the bestseller Sniper One: The Blistering True Story of a British Battle Group Under Siege

A valuable first-hand account of South African counter-insurgency operations in what was then South-West Africa and should be read by anyone interested in the southern African conflicts of the late twentieth century. --Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research

L'autore

After graduating from the University of South Florida, Jim Hooper worked as a documentary research-writer for WFLA-TV in Tampa, with weekends set aside as a skydiving team captain and instructor. He gave up television to devote himself full time to jumping out of airplanes, logging over 3000 freefalls and building the world's premier skydiving center in Zephyrhills, Florida. His thirst for adventure unfulfilled, he sold the business in 1984 to realize a long-held dream of being a war correspondent and author, making his home in England and setting off for Africa. Within two years, his byline was appearing in publications ranging from The Daily Telegraph of London to Jane's Intelligence Review. He covered wars in Angola, Chad, Congo, Namibia, South Africa, and southern Sudan. Following publication of Koevoet and its American edition, Beneath the Visiting Moon, he collaborated with fellow war correspondents Ken Guest and Anthony Rogers on Bloodsong- At the Frontline of Today s Wars. The only journalist to accompany the mercenaries of Executive Outcomes on operations in Sierra Leone, he was asked to record their campaigns in his book Bloodsong. The Balkan wars of the 1990s found him crossing back and forth between the Croatian, Serbian and Muslim frontlines in search of stories, the most memorable when he was captured by Muslim extremists in central Bosnia. He was also a principal contributor to the best-selling World's Most Dangerous Places, and its companion, Hotspots.

Dettagli dell'edizione

• Editore: Helion & Co Ltd
• Data di pubblicazione: 2013
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 0957058705
• ISBN 13: 9780957058705
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero edizione: 3
• Numero di pagine: 269
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile
• Persona responsabile: non disponibile