“Mad” Mike Hoare (center) somewhere in the Congo.
For those who are fans of Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner and grew up reading about the exploits of the various traveling warriors during the “Golden age of mercenaries” that was Africa in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, it may surprise you to find that the most resilient of the breed, Col. Thomas Michael “Mad Mike” Hoare, is still very much alive. A veteran of the London Irish Rifles in WWII’s Burma campaign, commander of 5 Commando in the Congo (there were no #1, #2, #3, or #4 Commando brigades), and the later Seychelles affair, he has lived a charmed life.
In fact, the Irishman is set to turn 100 next St. Patrick’s Day.
More here, in an interview with his son, at SOF (where else?).