Customer Reviews

Nineteen With a Bullet: A South African Paratrooper in Angola

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a kick ass, right on the money account of military service and combat on (and across) the Angolan border. Congratulations to the author on writing a first class, harrowing account of life in an elite front line unit. Without a doubt the most entertaining book I've read in a while.

Granger Korff captures all that is good and bad of war. From the camaraderie of a trained combat unit in the bush surrounded by enemy soldiers to the senseless killing of civilians caught in the crossfire. There are very few books that can make you feel a part of the story, Granger does it, the same as Chickenhawk, 13th Valley and Forgotten soldier does. Highly recommended.

Korff does a great job of chronicling his time in the SADF Airborne 1980-1981 and his deployments into Angola to fight SWAPO.Along the way Korff gets into trouble with drugs, fighting, and my favorite when he beats the hell out of a leg SGM for killing his cats while they are in the bush.If you are into reading about guerrilla warfare in SA this is definitely the book to read.

I remember as a kid in Jr.High reading Soldier of Fortune magazine about the conflict in Angola.
This was a interesting time because the wars in Africa recieved little attention in America.
Mr.Korff gives a grunt's eye view of life in the SADF and of fighting in the bush of Africa.His descriptions of the bush and his fellow para's gives one the feeling that they are right there with him.I loved when a brutal Smaj kills their mascots.And Mr.Korff gives him a good thumping which was deserved.He also has some great off duty stories which were entertaining.
The part of the book that I really related to was his post-war life.I'm a Iraq combat vet and reading his story has helped me heal somewhat.
This is a excellent book about African conflict.

This is the best book I have read on the South African/Angolan bush war. Most books are written by men who were professional soldiers, for whom combat operations are often described rather like military briefings: detached, "objective" and tactical. Korff writes like the best of writers. His text is close to the skin, his images and similes are compelling and original. when he describes fear, he says he can feel the cold eel move in his belly. His writing is so close that the reader can almost feel the sweat stinging his eyes and the smell of death. The book is also unflinchingly honest, and he writes of his actions and exploits without being either confessional or bragardly. He simply says what happened, without holding anything back. Further, unless one is particularly prudish (then why would you read a book like this anyway, you nitwit?) you can't help admiring, and perhaps envying, the young fellow's wild ways. I was rooting for him from beginning to end, from his sexual shenanigans with his high school teacher, through his street fight with some toughs, through paratrooper selection, and through the bush war. His book should make paratroopers proud, even though he does not for a moment glorify the hell and horror that such an experience might mean.

This is a very real book. If you are looking for cartoon violence and false heroes, this book is not for you. If you want to know how it feels to be in real combat, with your life on the line, then this is a must read. It takes you through the full gamut of emotions from fear to bravery and from pride to revulsion. You get a first person view from an elite paratrooper who is doing his utmost to be the best soldier possible in impossible situations.

Korff does a real bang-up job on this book - it's a riveting and accurate account of what went on, at least as far as my memory serves. One of the scenes when Korff beats up on rank for being a complete D-bag brings back all sorts of dark memories. The pain, the pressure, the frustration, the anguish, the helplessness ... it's all there in it's dirty glory.

I couldn't put the book down.

Granger Korff provides a fascinating overview of the experiences of a being a rifleman in South Africa's elite 1 Parachute Battalion, taking you through basic training, experiencing combat and finally life after national service. It's a no-holds-barred look at the horror and intense violence that was South Africa's border war, and the author does not spare the reader any details. The conflict was truly a dirty little war, on both sides, and Korff's book provides detailed insight into what it was like to be a front-line combat soldier on the ground. The book is an entertaining read and flows well, and at the end I certainly felt that I would be happy to read more about Korff's experiences in the military, as well as his post-SADF journey. This is one of the most honest, open and gritty books I have read on South Africa's border wars. There is no gloss and political rhetoric, but rather an intense personal exposition of one man's journey. There are parts that will leave you feeling physically ill and saddened, while others will see you cheering Korff on, and laughing at the goings on and characters. It is highly recommended.

This is from the review I wrote that was published on eNewsChannels: "On the surface, this is a book about combat, both personal and professional. But while there are plenty of scenes with bloody battles, all of which are shocking and gripping to read, you will also find humanity, philosophical questioning, and ultimately the cleansing elation of personal redemption."

This is a powerful work that is not pretty but it takes you to a good place in the long run. Or, as another paragraph in the review states:

"You can take this exciting ride from an armchair or while propped on a pillow, but I don't recommend reading it just before retiring to bed for the night. Emotions run very hot and heavy throughout these pages. Your view of the entertainment aspect of the piece will depend on your tolerance for carnage."

Granger Korff's book is a great book. Well worth the read! - I just wish the publisher (30 Degrees South) would start publishing titles in an e-Book format. They have many great books on the bush wars of Southern Africa.