/ Recent interview regarding my national service in 1986-87 in Namibia and southern Angola as a combat engineer
#1
westcliffe01
Veteran Member
Some may find this interview interesting, what it was like at one of the most remote outposts in Namibia and directly on the insurgent infiltration route. 1987 was very near the peak of the proxy war with massive soviet investment, Mig 21, 23 and 27 fighters, Sam 8 systems, 50 000 cubans many Russians and East Germans supporting the Angolan government. The CIA supporting Unita which included stingers.
I was part of the war against Swapo, thus I was not directly involved in the war in Angola with Unita, but we did do missions trying to keep north south lanes free from mines early in 87 before I became involved in more routine duties keeping the 1 dirt road cleared of mines which serviced the most northern SADF bases. My team walked 4000km in 210 days keeping that road open and preventing loss of life from landmines which also impacted the local tribes people who used the same roads.
I apologize in advance for the accents of myself and my interviewer, 24 years of living in the midwest has not "cured" me yet...
I was part of the war against Swapo, thus I was not directly involved in the war in Angola with Unita, but we did do missions trying to keep north south lanes free from mines early in 87 before I became involved in more routine duties keeping the 1 dirt road cleared of mines which serviced the most northern SADF bases. My team walked 4000km in 210 days keeping that road open and preventing loss of life from landmines which also impacted the local tribes people who used the same roads.
I apologize in advance for the accents of myself and my interviewer, 24 years of living in the midwest has not "cured" me yet...