Merc: American Soldiers of Fortune

I first read this book in 1979, soon after it was published. While it's relevance is now somewhat historical, it still provides an insight into African political and social problems, while giving an adventurous account of Americans who fought in Rhodesia and South Africa,for those 2 nation's armies, during the 1970's.Most of these guys had been professional American soldiers and Marines for years, most of them with combat experience in Vietnam.Also included is an account of Mike Eschanis, a former GI and martial arts expert who taught unarmed combat to the Navy SEALS, and who went to Nicaragua in the mid '70s to train and advise the dictator Somoza's forces, and where he died in an aircraft "accident" before Somoza's fall.There is,as well,an account of an American in the French Foreign Legion in Afica in the mid '70s, and others in various Central American and Caribbean wars. A very entertaining and enlightening read, about a time and area that most Americans still know nothing about,even though our own men would follow into this cauldron in 1992, when we moved into Somolia to undertake relief aid. Fans of military adventure and history, grab this one now !!!!!!!!!