Four Ball, One Tracer: Commanding Executive Outcomes in Angola and Sierra Leone

by Andrew Hudson, Andrew Hudson

Brutally honest and devoid of hyperbole, this is Roelf van Heerden's Executive Outcomes. / Unapologetic, unassuming and forthright, the combat exploits of Executive Outcomes (EO) in Angola and Sierra Leone are recounted for the first time by a battlefield commander who was physically on the ground during all their major combat operations. From fighting UNITA for the critical oil installations and diamond fields of Angola to the offensive against the RUF in Sierra Leone to capture the Kono diamond fields and the palace coup which ousted Captain Valentine Strasser, van Heerden was at the forefront. He tells of the tragedy of child soldiers, illegal diamond mining and the curse of government soldiers who turn on their own people; he tells of RUF atrocities, the harrowing attempt to rescue a downed EO pilot and the poignant efforts to recover the remains of EO soldiers killed in action. Coupled with van Heerden's gripping exposé, hitherto unpublished photographs, order of battle charts and battle maps offer unprecedented access to the major actions as they took place on the ground during the heydays of EO.

Genres: History, Africa, Military Fiction, Nonfiction, Angola, Sierra Leone, Military History

320 pages, Hardcover

First published June 19, 2012

Reviews

[Zare · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent account of EO operations in Angola and Sierra Leone. Told from the perspective of the on-the-ground commander of the EO operations this book sheds light on early EO missions and challenges.
While mercenaries have been rather common in Africa and Asia from [at least] the times of East India Company, EO was a guns-for-hire organization that was providing experienced battle-hardened South African Army ex-soldiers to foreign governments without any direct inclusion of official government from South Africa or any other Western power.

While previously mercenaries played extensive role in wars in Africa they were more or less proxies for the Cold War superpowers. Now you have a situation where very capable combat force can be deployed at the request of the local government anywhere in Africa. Not a good situation in case of any foul play is intended (and on the continent where coups are as common as elections anywhere else in the world foul play is very, very frequent) for a simple reason - no regional armed regular or irregular force is in any way capable to confront and survive the confrontation with EO.

I understand EO was not in for peanuts (that part of "for-hire" in "guns-for-hire") but they more than changed the playfield and proved that highly trained force with operational experience in the region that is ready and capable to work with the locals can be a true game-changer in the highly volatile African theater. No wonder everyone was for quick dissolution of EO - only to put their own PMC's in the field all around the world as soon as possible.

Highly recommended.

[LaMar Stellfox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply put, if you have an interest in the subjects of Africa, Sierra Leone, or modern PMCs (mercenaries) this book will be interesting. Not the most well written book, but with much information about the EO campaigns in Angola and SL that the author participated in. I found Mr. van Heerden's account quite interesting in a number of ways. First the background and conduct of the actions in the two countries and then his narrative about the work, the attitudes and interaction of the mercs themselves and how that made leadership in this environment a bit tricky.

[Richard Gipson · Rating 2 out of 5]

A disjointed, muddled account of Executive Outcomes' exploits in Sierra Leone & Angola. The author could have profited from a good ghost writer.

[Thomas Kanyak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roelf Turned his papers at South African intelligence and two weeks later in March 1993 he was taking part in a half-baked air and amphibious assault on Soyo with 36 other ex-SADF soldiers and a motley crew of FAA types that was more comic caper if not for the fact that it succeeded due to the professionalism and will of the South Africans of Executive Outcome. "This was yet another example of the root cause of Sierra Leones malaise-The people feared their own security forces." This quote from Roelf realy summed up the problem with many newly borne African nations.

[Eugene Choong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read.

Provides a good insight into EO and their operations esp. their way of conducting operations. I would have appreciated more info. about accounts from other people in the same operations for a more balanced picture.

[mark van muylem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Factual recollection of the EO presence and action in Angola and Sierra Leone. For history buffs of the late 20 th century African civil wars