Mad Dog Killers: The Story of a Congo Mercenary

by Ivan Smith

This soldier of fortune’s “superb [and] harrowing” memoir of joining the fight against Africa’s Simba rebellion “cuts to the core” (The Weekend Post, South Africa).   In the summer of 1964, young and cocky Ivan Smith volunteered as a mercenary in the Armée Nationale Congolaise. Armed with a naïve invulnerability and a promise of “exciting work” and “high rewards” Ivan signed a six-month contract in hell. The “danger money” was for warding off Simba rebels in Africa’s bloody Congo-Léopoldville revolt. A member of “Mad Mike” Hoare’s Five Commando Group he and his companions were nominally soldiers—but there was little in the way of campaigns, tactics, or discipline.   This was not conventional warfare. Loyalty to country or unit did not exist. For Ivan, the greatest dangers came from within his own band of fellow mercenaries, more of whom would die from accidental discharges, drunken shoot-outs, or stray bullets in the back than were ever killed in action by Simba rebels.   More than half a century later, Ivan relives the nightmare that was his time in the Congo, where he’d come to understand that there was no law of the jungle—just a lust for killing, and a true abject fear that helped to keep him alive.  

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military History

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Arthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author describes his personal experiences fighting as a mercenary in 5 Commando in the Congo war against the Simba rebels. His overall description of the conflict has an issue in that in Chapter 3 he writes "In 1963 Patrice Lumumba, with the backing of the Russians, engaged in cold war with the West and started a rebel movement in the Great Lakes area in the northern Congo seeking to overthrow President Kasavubu.". Lumumba died (was murdered) in January 1961. But other than this error, the author's story is engaging, seemingly honest, and incredibly shocking. The level of violence is just hard to imagine. Civilians seem to have to fear as much from the rebels as from the Congolese Army. When the army moves in after the mercenaries have driven off the rebels from a village, and start the indiscriminate killing and raping. And at one stage, the mercenaries take a few Congolese soldiers with them on a patrol and they start to indiscriminately and completely out of the blue kill some villagers. One of the author's mercenary friends is also incredibly violent and seems to think very little of killing (in a drunken haze - sometime after the period spent with the author - he kills an entire band as they refused to play some suggested music and at the end of the contract period with the author he kills a waiter involved in an argument with his boss in a cafe). The battle scene where the jeeps of the commando encounter many Simba rebels on a causeway is fascinating: at first the rebels sing and do not seem to be scared, but when the jeeps charge and use massive fire power, panic sets in and they are completely routed. The author makes the observation that this turned out to be a very effective tactic. The rebels did not fear the Congolese army but did fear the mercenaries. The rebels and the army were not very competent. Interestingly, the author points out that very rarely orders were issued to them and he does not think much of Mike Hoare, a well-known mercenary character, whom he observes on some occasions. His conscience also troubles him as he ends up killing many men and the circumstances of some of these are not clearcut in his mind. Overall this is an interesting story of a confusing conflict as seen through the eyes of a participant and of the horror of war, taking a particularly gruesome form in the Congo.

[Tony McManus · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was also a Congo mercenary. I served with Ivan Smith and knew him quite well. Like him I was a member 51 Commando under Gary Wilson, and fought alongside him at Lisala and Bumba and battles on the long route to Stanleyville. I carried a camera and kept a diary. It was I who took many of the photographs in Smith's book, including the two pictures on the front cover. He should have mentioned that. Many of my photographs taken at Lisala were later published in Paris Match.
I spent a full year in Mike Hoare's 5 Commando. I took part in many of the later battles after the fall of Stanleyville, such as White Giant and Baraka, under the command of the legendary Lt Col. John Peters who later took over after Hoare resigned. I left the Congo only when the Simbas had been thoroughly beaten and reduced to banditry.
Smith's book is interesting, it has good points, but is somewhat shallow a little salacious. The title is I feel, poor, designed for sensationalism. My own book, "A Disputed Barricade: A Congo Mercenary Diary" (https://bit.ly/3CVFjBr) covers things with greater clarity and depth. I disagree with much of what Smjth states, especially his belief that Mike Hoare was a fake, a phony. Hoare had flaws. He loved the privileges of command: a batman, convening "O" Groups with his officers, his swagger stick and such. He enjoyed publicity and being photographed. He was also a bit of an actor, but he had to be in my opinion, in order to command and control the wild bunch of the Commando. He was cool in battle. And on the few occasions that I spoke with him, I found him to be compassionate and considerate.
Nevertheless, for someone interested in this African war, it's on soldier's opinion and worth a read.

[george ingols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly told account of Africa's backside into darkness.

I found this book to tell a factual account of the period of Congo history coveted. I was a little surprised by the portions describing Mike Hoare as in some circles he is depicted differently. It would be the "Hollywood" version of Hoare. My personal experiences in Africa, Libya, mostly blessed me with fleeting encounters with several men from this event while patrolling the haunts of U.S. Military personnel in Tripoli. Their recollections differ very little from the authors.I highly recommend this book, both as a good read and a hard to put down history lesson. The term "shot hole" country used by a past US President is very appropriate.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short, very interesting book. It is the story of one mercenary fighting in the Congo under the legendary Mike Hoare. Smith paints a picture of a muddled killing frenzy, filth, starvation, and greed. He also repeatedly describes the infamous mercenary leader as a bumbling pretending. If you are interested in Congo during the 60s or white mercenaries in Africa this makes for a compelling read.

[Aydin Khosrowshahi · Rating 5 out of 5]

good read if ur interested in the winds of change/decolonization and the cold war. the narrative itself is exciting to read but he also gives good background into the geopolitical implications of what is happening in this conflict. would highly recommend

[Warren T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

An account that is honest as it is informative. No bull shit just a plain account of exploits in Africa.

[Tomonaut · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author takes you trough his younger years and how he got involved with "Mad Mike" Hoare's 5th commandment. Really enjoyable read.

[Eugenerose4gmail.Com · Rating 1 out of 5]

That’s right, zero stars. This is trash. Madness , racist, murderers for hire, psychopaths, bleh. Upgrading to one star for the photos.

[Alan Landau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read

A part of the Congo war I didn’t know about. I am pleased the Author recorded this bit of history in his honest and unbiased way. All very fascinating.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it hard to put this book down, and knowing it is not fictional added to the allure. It is full of larger-than-life characters like the racist psychotic murderer/mercenary Boeta. The writing style is clear and powerful.

[Keith Browning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good look into what the world was like in the mid-sixties. Fascinating slice of history.