An Unpopular War
Filed under Books, General by Brett Reid at 10:32am June 21st, 2007
This book caught my eye one afternoon while I was ’shopping’ with Jackie. CNA is always a great stop for us men, especially when compared with Foschini, Truworths, YDE, etc. An Unpopular War was sitting at number 6 in the top 10. I’ve read 2 books on the Border War and find it very interesting - like the cover says - it was a war that was swept under the carpet, most young South Africans don’t even know it happened. Yet in the 70’s and 80’s it was a reality which you faced as you finished school.
This book covers the National Service process from call-up to the Border War and the final days of Apartheid township patrols. It’s made up of short excerpts from actual soldiers who served during that time. Each excerpt is between 1 paragraph - 1.5 pages long and has the soldiers name (or ‘anonymous’) and age at the time. It’s useful as it gives you a rounded view of what it was like. The War side is obviously very horrific and something I would never like to experience but this book covers National Service from all angles.
It made me think that going through ‘Basics’ was actually good for a person - it teaches you a lot of big lessons in life very early. You come out more mature and appreciate the little things in life. You also learn a lot about your potential as you are pushed to new levels of physical fitness, something that even your Virgin Active gym instructor these days can’t quite comprehend.
I couldn’t put this book down and finished it (in my limited spare time) in a couple weeks. I’ve passed it onto Mike, my business partner, who did his 2 years of national service. He has good memories of his basics. My uncle flew Puma’s (insertion, extraction, casevacs, transport) in the Border War. He told me once about this flight he was a part of where his wingman (Puma) was shot out of the sky next to him. One of the stories in this book covers an incident which sounds very similar to what he described - I can’t begin to imagine not being able to react after seeing something like that. I guess that’s why it interests me.
One of the better books I have read - definately.
Publisher: ZEBRA PRESS
ISBN: 9781770073012
Publication Date: 2006/6
Zebra Press Review
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Similar books I would recommend:
Vlamgat - The Story of the Mirage F1
This book covers the Border War from the perspective of the Fighter Pilots, the fears they faced as well as the thrills of flying the F1 during peacetime.
It’s available on Amazon.com on CD-ROM (hardcopy has been discontinued). You can also buy it (locally) here on the SAAF website.