MERCS: True Stories of Mercenaries in Action

By: Fawcett, Bill

Book Overview

For as long as armies have clashed on fiery fields of battle, professional soldiers of fortune have fought, bled, and died. They are the ultimate warriors, sharing skills few men possess, a pride few men can merit, and an unassailable courage in the face of overwhelming numbers and superior weaponry. These are the men who take the risks that others would never dare; the men who change history and keep the enemy at bay; the men who change history and keep the enemy at bay. And, if need be, they are willing to die in prusuit of their objective: total victory on the field of war. MERCS is a collection of remarkable true accounts of mercenaries in action -- from the ancient Greeks against the Persians in 400 B.C. to the blood-curdling siege at Vietnam's Dein Bein Phu and the modern-day drug wars of Central and South America. Here are stories of incredible battleground stands, of daring raids and revolutionary operations, of astonishing bravery in desperate situations -- and of the rare breed of fighting men who made war their vocation...and honor their guide.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380798387
• ISBN13: 9780380798384
• Release Date: June 1999
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

A good overview of historical professional soldiering

There are many causes worth fighting for, but some just go without mention thanks to lack of media coverage (Biafra comes to mind). Some mercenaries do not fit the Hollywood mold of a ruthless, senseless warmonger with a thirst for blood and the next big paycheck. Some mercs are angels of mercy, sacrificing themselves for those whom it may not be "politically suitable" for other large nations (read: USA) to aid. "Mercs" covers some of these individuals with interesting non-fiction short stories. Of particular interest to this reader were the accounts of Count Carl Gustav von Rosen, who led five modified light aircraft armed with small rocket pods on morning raids against the Nigerian Air Force (mostly MiGs), and the stories concerning the history of the French Foreign Legion.

Tales of real life soldiers of fortune

"Mercs" is a series of tiny anecdotes (usually anywhere from 3-10 pages) about various mercenaries throughout history, with a special emphasis on the twentieth century, except for the final section, which is a long long piece on mercenaries sent to start a coup in Ghana. Most of the stories range from lame to fascinating, depending on what happens. My favorite anecdotes were the ones about Sir John de Hawkwood, English condotierre in Renaissance Italy. The anecdotes that didn't hold too much of an interest to me are the ones from the mid-20th century, especially the ones in Vietnam (they just kinda blend together to me). I also thought it might have been a bit better if they included a bit more of the post-Cold War mercenaries. But all in all I would say it's a decent book.

Mercs-- A cut above the rest

This is a highly interesting collection of stories. It covers the history of merenaries from the Greeks in Persia to the modern day drug wars. This book has a definite intellectual edge to it, as the writers clearly have a decent education. If you are used to reading military stories written by veterans with little or no education (not to say the stories are not interesting) this is a refreshing, clearly written book. I enjoyed it thouroughly, and learned many things that I found both surprising and entertaining.