Ultimate Acceptance

by William Barnes

Ultimate Acceptance Narrative The story is set in 1982 during the Falklands War. It follows the preparation of B Squadron 22 SAS, who whilst not having been initially deployed as part of the Task Force, are making extensive preparations for a raid on airfields on the Argentinian mainland. To the Government and their senior military advisors it appears that the success of the whole Falklands operation depends on neutralising the threat posed by the Argentinian Air Force and in particular their Super Etendard aircraft. The stakes are very high for the politicians, generals and perhaps even higher for those who are going to take part in the mission. The proposed action divides opinion in the regiment, it is considered by many to be a kamikaze operation with limited chance of success and certainly no way home for those taking part. The principal character is Jim West. He is a 26 year old SAS captain who commands 6 Troop. For the past 2 years has been living his dream of wearing the sandy beret. He and his men train hard, each day wondering whether at more senior levels common sense might eventually prevail. If the raid on Entebbe styled mission could be taken off the agenda it would be a welcome relief for everyone to focus on alternative and hopefully more realistic options of striking at the enemy. However events take a turn in the opposite direction, the view of the politicians and SAS Directorate is that immediate action is vital. They determine that whatever the cost it is expedient to send soldiers to the mainland. Jim and his men are rushed through a deployment process, at the end of which they are unclear on their mission, lack any detail on the target or enemy ground forces and have a map that appears to have been cut out of a 1930s school atlas. Before long Jim finds himself with a seven man patrol parachuting into the South Atlantic waiting to taken on a one way helicopter trip into Argentina. During the action we look back at some of the defining moments, seeking to gain insight into just how he and his men found themselves floating in the freezing waters of the South Atlantic. Just what motivated Jim and his men and what does it mean to those in the regiment to ‘belong’. The book follows the operation to its inevitable conclusion and on the way Jim begins to understand the true price of ‘belonging’.

196 pages, Paperback

First published November 11, 2012