Cold War Navy SEAL: My Story of Che Guevara, War in the Congo, and the Communist Threat in Africa

by James M. Hawes, Mary Ann Koenig

For the first time, a Navy SEAL tells the story of the US's clandestine operations in North Vietnam and the Congo during the Cold War. Sometime in 1965, James Hawes landed in the Congo with cash stuffed in his socks, morphine in his bag, and a basic understanding of his recruit a mercenary navy and suppress the Soviet- and Chinese-backed rebels engaged in guerilla movements against a pro-Western government. He knew the United States must preserve deniability, so he would be abandoned in any life-threatening situation; he did not know that Che Guevara attempting to export his revolution a few miles away. Cold War Navy SEAL gives unprecedented insight into a clandestine chapter in US history through the experiences of Hawes, a distinguished Navy frogman and later a CIA contractor. His journey began as an officer in the newly-formed SEAL Team 2, which then led him to Vietnam in 1964 to train hit-and-run boat teams who ran clandestine raids into North Vietnam. Those raids directly instigated the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. The CIA tapped Hawes to deploy to the Congo, where he would be tasked with creating and leading a paramilitary navy on Lake Tanganyika to disrupt guerilla action in the country. According to the US government, he did not, and could not, exist; he was on his own, 1400 miles from his closest allies, with only periodic letters via air-drop as communication. Hawes recalls recruiting and managing some of the most dangerous mercenaries in Africa, battling rebels with a crew of anti-Castro Cuban exiles, and learning what the rest of the intelligence world was dying to the location of Che Guevara. In vivid detail that rivals any action movie, Hawes describes how he and his team discovered Guevara leading the communist rebels on the other side and eventually forced him from the country, accomplishing a seemingly impossible mission. Complete with never-before-seen photographs and interviews with fellow operatives in the Congo, Cold War Navy SEAL is an unblinking look at a portion of Cold War history never before told.

Genres: History, War, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, Biography, Politics, Africa

207 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 3, 2018

Reviews

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story about a former Navy SEAL who served a tour in Vietnam prior to joining the CIA and heading up their covert mercenary navy on Lake Tanganyika to oppose the communist backed Simba rebels in the Congo during the height of the Cold War. The book covers an interesting and unknown bit of history of a successful counter-insurgency campaign. It focuses mostly on how this force was set up and the Cuban-American crews who were employed to fight on the lake, where they fought against communist Cubans lead by Che Guevara himself in his failed revolution in the Congo. Highly recommended.

[M. Sarki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book and relative today due to our current president's rebuke and disrespect to those who serve and keep us safe. These men and women put their lives on the line for us every day, and though the operations are sometimes suspect and misguided, the orders are carried out and the missions accomplished. Donald J Trump and all his supporters should be ashamed of themselves.

[Bradley West · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cold War Navy SEAL tells a story that reads like a Hollywood script: idealistic Navy SEAL involved at the very outset of the Vietnam War resigns in a fit of pique just prior to a second tour in Vietnam. Meanwhile, the CIA's designated deniable assignee to the Congo in 1965 is unavailable. On short notice, 26-year-old Lt. Hawes finds himself organizing Cuban mercenaries, Cajun boat builders and non-sailors drawn from Mad Mike Hoare's 5 Commando into a naval force capable of interdicting arms and men resupplying the Simba rebels in eastern Congo. Along the way, Hawes introduces us to colorful characters, none more so than Che Guevara in search of a new revolution.

That virtually no one knows about this secret episode in America's covert history makes the story all the better. Hawes tells the story in a straight-ahead fashion without adornment. I would have enjoyed it more had there been a few more anecdotes and battle scenes, but it was a quick, informative and enjoyable read. Recommended.

[Nick Hernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title is a misnomer but the subtitle is spot on. This is not a book about Navy SEAL operations in the Cold War, but rather about CIA operations. It is a detailed account about the CIA training mercenaries to fight communists in the Congo in 1965. Author states this information has been classified for 50 years and it is only now that he can tell his story. All in all, a good read about skirmishes in Africa which we have never heard about before.

[Jerome Otte · Rating 4 out of 5]

A riveting and insightful memoir.

Hawes’ tone is modest as he describes his role in covert operations in Vietnam and the Congo. The operations in the Congo against the Simbas take up most of the the book, and he covers his personal dealings with people like Mike Hoare and the anti-Castro Cubans involved in the operation (some of them having been at the Bay of Pigs), as well as the story of how he found Che Guevara at a time when his whereabouts were unknown. The section on Vietnam takes up about one chapter, however.

Hawe’s style is engaging and he provides great insights into the complex situations he found himself in. The tone is pretty understated. The narrative can jump around a bit chronologically, though.

A fast-paced and clearly written work.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

COLD WAR NAVY SEAL

With information declassified after 50 years, Navy SEAL James Hawes tells of a US lead clandestine operation in the Congo in 1965/66 to stop the spread of communism in Africa.

After a group of hostage held missionaries were rescued from the Chinese and Russian backed Simba rebels, the US decided to establish the Force Navale Congolaise along Lake Tanganyika coast. This paramilitary navy's goal was to disrupt guerrilla action within the Congo. They were to impede and end the transport by boat of food, supplies, and military equipment being delivered from Tanzania to the Simba rebels in the Congo.

James Hawes worked with a group of very dedicated anti-Castro Cuban exiles to fight the Simbas who were being lead at the time by Che Guevara. They had to recruit and train local African mercenaries. They had to procure boats from a variety of fascinating and creative sources.

This is a terrific story of an undercover operation during the Cold War. I admire what these men were able to accomplish in some really rough conditions.

Maps and pictures.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't read many memoirs of soldiers serving on the tactical level but, this one intrigued me as the author served in the Congo and fought Che Guevara. As always when reading about covert operations you can't help but, feel that intentionally more was left off the page then put on it. Still this book offers interesting insights on U.S. policy toward Africa during the struggle against communism and would also be of interest to anyone interested in Cuban and Cuban disapora affairs.

[Cathal Larkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lacking detail

Too sparse a commentary on the actual activities. Appears to lack the services of a proper writer. I found it interesting but superficial.

[Cory Jarrett · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was tough to get through. Despite the tremendous respect I have for James Hawes and the men he served with, I found myself in a battle of my own just trying to grind through this snoozer.

[Rachael · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars

Cold War Navy SEAL: My Story of Che Guevara, War in the Congo, and the Communist Threat in Africa by James M. Hawes and Mary Ann Koenig offers a rare, firsthand glimpse into a little-known chapter of Cold War history. Hawes recounts his time as a CIA-backed operative in the Congo in 1965, tasked with training mercenaries to combat communist forces and disrupt guerilla activity — all while maintaining complete U.S. deniability. His journey, which began with clandestine SEAL operations in Vietnam, eventually placed him just miles from Che Guevara, who was attempting to spark a revolution in Africa.

I picked this up after reading The Siege of Jadotville and wanting to learn more about the Congo during this period. While the subtitle accurately captures the book’s focus, the main title is somewhat misleading — this is far more a CIA operation story than a Navy SEAL memoir. Hawes’ account provides intriguing insights into U.S. Cold War policy toward Africa and the chaotic world of mercenaries — including former Foreign Legionnaires, ex-Nazis, and opportunistic adventurers — who brought brutal tactics and shifting loyalties into the fray.

That said, Cold War Navy SEAL ultimately fell short for me. The writing is dry, repetitive, and often reads more like a personal debriefing than a gripping narrative. The storytelling lacks momentum, with slow pacing and limited "on-the-ground" action, despite the dramatic subject matter. There’s also a noticeable gap in deeper commentary — the book focuses heavily on Hawes' viewpoint, offering little insight into the Congolese people’s experiences or the broader colonial legacies that shaped the conflict.

The historical details around mercenary culture were the strongest part, but overall, the book felt superficial and disjointed. Interesting? Yes — but not immersive, and it left me wanting a more nuanced and vividly told account of this complex period.

[Zare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent account of US paramilitary actions in Congo in the 1960's. Author was commander on ground of off-books mercenary riverine fleet operating Swift assault boats at the Lake Tanganyika. Personnel was taken from all over - from Cuban exiles fighting against Castro to mercenaries from Michael "Mad Mike" Hoare's 5 Commando troops. Together they faced Simba's and their backers from the Eastern Block.

Author is pretty straight-forward and shows things as they are - from organization, support, inter-personnel relations and conflicts to unbelievable amateurism no-one could expect from people involved in an endeavor like this.

Although faced with great obstacles, this small but highly effective riverine fleet managed to achieve all their goals and then some. Unfortunately when things were passed to local Congolese government everything went tits-up in a very short time period.

Highly recommended to all military and history fans.

[Mark Speed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when buying this book 'on spec'. What I read was a top-notch account of a counter-insurgency war fought in Congo in the mid-60s, and about which the world knows very little. The author has done a fantastic job in researching the facts following the declassification of documents after 50 years. There are some key 'legendary' figures of the era, including Che Guevara and Mad Mike Hoare, in what was a very odd era of the Cold War where it was acceptable to engage mercenaries. An absolutely riveting read, and I applaud the author for finally getting at least some recognition for the Cubans who served with him. [A few funny typos crept in, such as a .57mm recoilless rifle and a 0.60mm mortar. Similar problems exist in the electronic versions of the original James Bond stories. I know the author won't be happy with these errors.]

[Eric Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As somebody on Discord mentioned, that SEALs usually make the most stories or always have a story to tell. While I never served in any special forces unit, it seems that SEALs do a lot on this planet. I've read a few books and invariably it's some declassified operation and such. This book is no different, which highlights the anti-communist fervor back then, during the Vietnam War. While the author did serve operationally in Vietnam, he only glosses over most of it, instead focusing most of the book on the Congo operation. Names I'm sure he mentioned are changed to protect the innocent and guilty. I think this book is a good book to read, and not filled with the Hooyah mentality that special forces operators get these days. James was a quiet professional, and as one myself in some ways, I can respect that.

[David Patsel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read book

Don’t miss this book. I had heard of the communists trying to make the Congo and Africa become communist back in the sixties when a youngster but never understood what actually happened. This story provides illumination to how the US, the CIA and it’s many brave, selfless and courageous men liberated possibly millions from communism. A success story that needs to be told. While we were “losing” in Vietnam we were winning in the Congo, it just wasn’t told until now. Highly recommend this one!

[John Min · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books like this that give you a slice of history that is generally omitted from most sources. It is amazing what a twenty something Navy Seal can do to influence a major conflict in this world. Loved the telling of how he put together a "navy" in the Congo and used it with great effect to beat back the communist rebels that were vying for power. The Che component was also very interesting as was the Cuban vs. Cuban aspect. It read well, and I sped through this story. Very good read of some obscure cold war history.

[Chuckdee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing story: well written, and easy to absorb. The time and place is an often ignored or marginalized part of 60s history. To have someone who was there share what really happened and the impact this small group of selfless heroes had on stopping communism is just priceless.

Confession- i’ve been a Mad Mike Hoare fan boy (can’t believe I wrote that) since seeing “The Wild Geese”…I’ve read his books, and now really appreciate the other side of the story. Among other things, I have a much clearer view of him.

[Joel B Champagne · Rating 4 out of 5]

History

I was in high school when this was all taking place. I recall reading the newspaper that described the various happenings in the Congo. I paid little attention until I read this book. Now, the history makes sense. This is a great book, written for me, that have me the perspective I needed to understand those newspaper articles.

[Jonathan Heaslet · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story deserves 4-stars but the co-writer did a poor job of rendering it into an understandable, readable, contextualized book. Read it for the sheer nerve of how our government sent a 26-year old LTJG to the Congo in the 1960s to take on Che Guevara knowing that in the event of failure, “The Secretary will disavow…”

[Scott Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great non-fictional account of a classified operation that the CIA and US Navy participated in during the mid 60’s to thwart the spread of communism on the continent of Africa. The author provided his first hand account as he was the Officer-in-Charge during the Op. This was well written, researched and kept my attention.

[Steve Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seals in the Congo?

Hawes, a first hand participant shares a bit of little known history regarding the US Navy and CI A involvement in the Congo in the 1960's. Much of what he reveals has only recently been declassified.

[John Gibbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reads like a novel but is a true story..

Well written and engaging. It is hard to put down. It reads like a novel but is a true story. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Would make a great movie.

[CASPER HILEMAN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Hawes introduces us to the early years of the Naval Special Warfare Command. Congo and the competition between the West and the Communist world in Central Africa. This is not your typical Navy Seal narrative of today but a much more introspective tale.

[Kevin casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

INTERESTING

Great story about CIA escapades in the Congo. Reads well with some interesting real life characters from naval men who ran the show, to Cubans and cutthroat mercenaries which makes for a great tale

[Daniel George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Great book about a part of military history few of us knew about and a fitting tribute to the men who served there.

[Mikel Souto]

Q

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hawes brings the reader into the center of the action in a way that one can almost smell the residue of the firefights. The action and the telling of this story is riveting.

What makes this book unique is the location and timing of the covert operations. The center of power in Washington was still reeling from the affect and effects of Castro –the Cuban Missile Crisis; Bay of Pigs, etc. And, then the new communist threat in Viet Nam to SE Asia; Having been embarrassed by the Bay of Pigs and the folk hero status of Che Guevara the US had no appetite for publicizing more action involving Cuba.

Few had knowledge of Cuba’s role in Africa in conjunction with Russia and China. We may have read of the historic rescue in Stanleyville (also editorialized as the Stanleyville Massacre) in the early 1960’s. And, of the Simba Revolution. However, the backstories where classified for 50 years! It was only after the declassification that role of the US Government in the Congo could be told. The Soviet Union and Cuba took an active role in the conflict, flying or trucking in supplies, armaments and personnel. Included in these were at least 200 Soviet and Cuban military advisors, including Che Guevara.

[Brian R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story. It's amazing to think of the many heroic missions that are occurring behind the scenes that the public never hears about, or doesn't hear about until years after the action occurred. Thank you for your service.

[Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

About a SEAL turned CIA covert soldier leading small-scale military operations in Africa, using mercenaries. By necessity short-sighted, but entertaining and detailed.

[Kristaps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lesser known history of navy seal engagements. Story 5, storytelling 3.