Bullet Point Podcast EP1: Mike West - Special Forces Super Soldier (Part 1)
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- čas přidán 2. 05. 2024
- A discussion with former correctional services officer and now retired former Rhodesian SAS and South African Recce operator, Mike West about life as a taxi driver in Pretoria, working on death row and joining the Rhodesian war. Mike is promoting his new book by Hannes Wessels entitled "Mike West - Special Forces Super Soldier" #podcast #specialforces #sas #southafrica
Hi Mike - good to see you after all these years. The last time I saw you was when we were both in 7Troop 2 Commando Rhodesian Light Infantry in June 1977, when we were deployed on a 21 day operation from Mtoko into the Chioco district of the Tete Province of Mozambique to relieve the Rhodesian SAS who had been operating there for 30 days.(this was prior to you leaving the RLI and joining the Rhodesian SAS) Our task was to disrupt supply lines of ZANLA and Frelimo and to lay ambushes and mines. It was a callsign of 16 of us which included our USA Medic Keith Nelson. On day 10 of our deployment we were walking in single file alongside a very dry riverbed when Keith Nelson , the USA Medic, stepped on an anti-personnel mine which Ronnie Travers , Jan Myburgh and myself had miraculously stepped over. Unfortunately Keith Nelson, who was 4th from the front of the single file, stepped on the AP mine and had both his legs blown off from the knee down. It was an agonising and extremely painful 4 hour wait for the chopper casevac for Keith Nelson after the depletion of all the morphine that was being carried. Keith was successfully casevaced back to Mtoko and after his recovery he returned to the USA and wrote a book called ""The Crippled Eagles" We remained on the op for another 7 days before we were uplifted and returned to Mtoko Airfield. I am busy reading your and Hannes Wessel`s book and much respect to you for your incredible military service in Rhodesia`s military and South Africa`s Special Forces. Take care mate and all the very best to you and your family. Regards Stu Hodgson
Francois Swanepoel was my uncle, my mother's brother. I know Mike personally, and he is a good man. We are so proud of you Mike . Sharon and Eugene
Hi Mike Remember me??? Chef at Kabrit who always Provided all the Cornflakes you needed before going on Ops. Happy That I came across this interview after entering your name on CZcams.
Possibly getting mixed up with his SA svc, the parachutes were packed at New Sarum air force base, in Sby. Most of the packers were actuality woman.
I enjoyed the excellent book and this talk as well. Mike is a good storyteller and should talk on Fighting men of Rhodesia as well as Legacy Conversations. A humble and honest super soldier.
Correction! A '45 is a Mercedes truck whereas the Older Bedford was an RL.
Good to see correct videos to the discussion
Well done Joe!
Great stuff, we mainly used 1:50000 Pilots would always use 1:250000 maps, and would also carry the 1:50 thousand map of the area
Just needed to add the favorite ice cream for these okes is RUM n Raisin 😂😂
Rhodesian SAS / RLI / Selous Scouts the best counter insurgency force ever. Pity SA didn’t support Rhodesia.
We did support them, Air Force, Army, and logistically. Our trains used to go at night into Rhodesia. The trains were so heavily loaded that those wheels slipped continuously even after we were warned not to support them. My fathers cousin was killed there as well. He was in the South African Police. The medical supplies you used came from South Africa. So yes, we did support Rhodesia.
@@hennies9509 Yes agree. But John Vorster closed the border in 1976 to starve us of ammunition and fuel, to force us to negotiate with the communist terrorists.
SA forces fought in Rhodesia as late as 1979/80
@@Marcel-ho3pq When PW took over from John Vorster in 1979 South Africa then really started helping but Vorster had put us in a no-win position by then.
The utter stupidity of Vorster he believed Henry Kissinger when he told him if you sacrifice Rhodesia then everyone will leave SA alone. Incredible.
@@Wolf-hh4rv We all hated John Vorster for that move. Our reasoning remains that if we stuck together, we would have triumphed. John Vorster was controlled by the west.
What an awesome conversation. Were you awared any gongs ? Just curious.
Besides a "pro patria"...all respect 🙏
Banana 🍌 emblem was 3Cdo of the RLI
Public flogging for anyone claiming for things they are not entitled to.
No signature in my book
Where can I get his book?
Who was the athlete they were talking about? I can not make out the name he gives. The sound was not good.
Now I want some ice cream....
Did you do any basic training for the Rhodesian army?
Not really he told them when he joined he had experience in the SA army.
Esse Quam Videri
To be rather than to seem to be
What a doos move having a pub fight and potentially compromising the mission.