The Back Brief: Three 10th Special Forces Group memoirs reviewed
Three extraordinary men who became Special Forces legends
I recently had the opportunity to read three Special Forces history books that I had on my shelf, each recommended to me by old-school Green Berets after I had expressed interest in these subjects. Each memoir is written by a veteran who served in 10th Special Forces Group. One was a Czech national, another French, and the third an American. All had experience in World War II as young men, and two of the three went on to see action in Vietnam. Collectively, these books offer a glimpse into a world of brutal combat and survival during World War II, leading into the origins of 10th Special Forces Group and early Special Forces missions in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Slaver's Wheel: A Green Beret’s True Story of his CLASSIFIED Mission to the Congo by Jack Lawson with Sully de Fontaine
“Slaver's Wheel” tells the story of Special Forces legend Sully de Fontaine, written by Jack Lawson from de Fontaine’s unpublished memoirs. Born in Belgium to French parents, de Fontaine escaped mainland Europe during World War II and was recruited by the Special Operations Executive, the British equivalent of the United States' Office of Strategic Service. Still a teenager, de Fontaine jumped into German-occupied France and aided downed Allied pilots by moving them through a clandestine network before repatriating them back through friendly lines.
After detailing de Fontaine's backstory, the bulk of the book picks up in 1960. By then, de Fontaine had become a U.S. citizen and was serving in 10th Special Forces Group in Germany when his commander received a classified message instructing him to put together a team to evacuate Americans from the Congo at the request of U.S. Ambassador Clare Timberlake. Belgium’s chaotic withdrawal had destabilized the Congo and the local security forces had revolted. Disturbing reports of murder and mayhem were reaching the West.