A Green Beret's True Story of His Jack Lawson with Sully de Fontaine
A Green Beret's True Story of His Jack Lawson with Sully de Fontaine A Green Beret's True Story of His Jack Lawson with Sully de Fontaine
xiv Tmbwfs’’’’’’’’’ (t!Xiffm surrender the Congo to its unprepared people. That liberal mindset is directly responsible for the death and destruction that would continue for decades and into the new millennium. The pattern of events during the first months of independence was part of a carefully engineered plan to use the United Nations to consolidate Lumumba’s hold on the Congo. When this failed, Lumumba was forced to hastily bring in his mentors, the Soviet Union. He intended to do so from the beginning as soon as he had gained control of the Congo. Most accounts of the events and turmoil in Africa also ignore tribal antagonism as a major cause of conflict. In the days immediately after independence, conflict in the Congo was more the result of tribal antagonisms than the West’s attempt to undermine Lumumba. However, this radically changed as Lumumba’s motives became more apparent and the Soviet Union began to send military equipment and advisors to the Congo. Lumumba would have probably become a tyrannical leader much like other communist dictators such as Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana or Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. Starvation, genocide, terrorism and unrest in Africa became major concerns of the United States. The U.S. Army created a regional military command in 2008 that deals solely with Africa. Initially, four-star General William “Kip” Ward, a career infantry officer, led the Africa Command at its headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. The command was created to assist in training the militaries of African nations and rendering humanitarian aid to those countries. The American effort was well received by its host countries and is a counter balance to similar missions of Russia and China. As General Ward put it: “The U.S. mission is not to militarize or establish an American military presence in Africa. It is not to create a monopoly for America on the resources of Africa, but to help those countries become self reliant in their affairs and to ensure the minerals and resources of Africa are free, open and available to the
Preface entire world on a competitive basis for the betterment of the African people.” One of my motives for writing about this operation is that U.S. Army Special Forces Sergeant First Class Stefan Mazak, who saved my life and the lives of missionaries, was never publicly recognized for his feat of endurance. He hiked ten kilometers through almost impenetrable jungle to my standoff with rebels. His bravery and valor in confronting and killing many of the rebels forced them to disperse allowing us, and the missionaries, to escape by plane. Stefan Mazak was responsible for saving the lives of thirteen people that day. In October 1960, a private ceremony was held at the Tenth Special Forces Headquarters in Bad Tolz, Germany. Hosted by their commander, Colonel Michael Paulick, Captain Clement, Sergeant Mazak and I were awarded the Army Commendation Medal. Because of the classified operation, the Army’s decision to award First Sergeant Mazak the Army Distinguished Service Cross was revoked. The reason was the State Department feared publicity would reveal too much information about the rescue operation. Later, however, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal, the third highest valor award, for his service in Vietnam in 1968. The Army Distinguished Service Cross, next to the Medal of Honor, is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the Army. It is awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. United States authorities decided there would be no mention of Special Forces soldiers involved in combat with Congolese soldiers that could come back to haunt the United States government. As a first lieutenant, I, however, became the first Army lieutenant to receive the Legion of Merit for bravery and service in the Congo. Colonel Paulick stated to all attending the ceremony, “There is to be absolutely no mention of this ceremony or the awards, especially to the press.” xv
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xiv<br />
Tmbwfs’’’’’’’’’ (t!Xiffm<br />
surren<strong>de</strong>r the Congo to its unprepared people. That liberal mindset<br />
is directly responsible for the <strong>de</strong>ath and <strong>de</strong>struction that would continue<br />
for <strong>de</strong>ca<strong>de</strong>s and into the new millennium.<br />
The pattern <strong>of</strong> events during the first months <strong>of</strong> in<strong>de</strong>pen<strong>de</strong>nce<br />
was part <strong>of</strong> a carefully engineered plan to use the United Nations to<br />
consolidate Lumumba’s hold on the Congo. When this failed, Lumumba<br />
was forced to hastily bring in his mentors, the Soviet Union.<br />
He inten<strong>de</strong>d to do so from the beginning as soon as he had gained<br />
control <strong>of</strong> the Congo.<br />
Most accounts <strong>of</strong> the events and turmoil in Africa also ignore<br />
tribal antagonism as a major cause <strong>of</strong> conflict. In the days immediately<br />
after in<strong>de</strong>pen<strong>de</strong>nce, conflict in the Congo was more the result<br />
<strong>of</strong> tribal antagonisms than the West’s attempt to un<strong>de</strong>rmine Lumumba.<br />
However, this radically changed as Lumumba’s motives became<br />
more apparent and the Soviet Union began to send military<br />
equipment and advisors to the Congo.<br />
Lumumba would have probably become a tyrannical lea<strong>de</strong>r much<br />
like other communist dictators such as Kwame Nkrumah <strong>of</strong> Ghana<br />
or Robert Mugabe <strong>of</strong> Zimbabwe.<br />
Starvation, genoci<strong>de</strong>, terrorism and unrest in Africa became major<br />
concerns <strong>of</strong> the United States. The U.S. Army created a regional<br />
military command in 2008 that <strong>de</strong>als solely <strong>with</strong> Africa. Initially,<br />
four-star General William “Kip” Ward, a career infantry <strong>of</strong>ficer, led<br />
the Africa Command at its headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany.<br />
The command was created to assist in training the militaries <strong>of</strong><br />
African nations and ren<strong>de</strong>ring humanitarian aid to those countries.<br />
The American effort was well received by its host countries and<br />
is a counter balance to similar missions <strong>of</strong> Russia and China. As<br />
General Ward put it: “The U.S. mission is not to militarize or establish<br />
an American military presence in Africa. It is not to create a<br />
monopoly for America on the resources <strong>of</strong> Africa, but to help those<br />
countries become self reliant in their affairs and to ensure the minerals<br />
and resources <strong>of</strong> Africa are free, open and available to the
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