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this or for our virulent anti-tyrant, anti-communisteditorial stance.”
With a wealth of military experience, SOFstaffers essentially became the bow wave of today’s“private military contractors.” In that regard, SOFtraining teams preceded South Africa’s famousExecutive Outcomes Corporation and Blackwaterby several years. Often as not, Bob’s teams were upfront, alongside the host-country nationals, rifles inCondition One and grenade pins straightened.Training “local indigenous personnel” was a bigpart of what Brown did in Special Forces, and hepursued that goal with relentless determination.
Many SOFers pursue juicy stories regardless ofrisk. In 1983 contributor Jim Coyne approached anotorious KGB agent known for his “wet work”in Thailand. The Russian was known as “Jaws” forgood reason: the U.S. embassy predicted direconsequences, especially since SOF was investi-gating Soviet chemical-biological weapons pro-vided to Vietnam. “Jaws” glibly denied the accu-sation – wink and a nod – but agreed to meet forlunch. The KGB and SOF were mutually drawn toone another.
At first Brown refused to dine with any(bleep)ing KGB agent. But finally he went alongand conducted his little corner of the Cold War ina Bangkok coffee house. When SOF published astory about the meeting, three days later “Jaws”
was recalled to Moscow. RKB subsequently got athreatening letter from “Jaws” stating that helooked forward to a meeting in Central America.
Some SOF correspondents were fearless, andsome paid the ultimate price. In the first 25 years,four of the bold men who braved the most danger-ous missions died in the line of duty, whether asfreelance journalists or freelance mercs: GeorgeBacon, III, in Angola; Michael Echanis inNicaragua; Lance Motley in Thailand; and ColonelRobert MacKenzie in Sierra Leone.
Certainly the magazine has drawn its share ofcontroversy. It has consistently outraged the left bypublishing Rhodesian Army recruiting posters, tooffering a $25,000 in gold to a defector fromCuban intelligence, to a $1,000,000 reward for thedefection of a Nicaraguan MI-24. All the whiletraining the Contras and Salvadorian Army.
Behind the front-line reportage and splashynews coverage, SOF did something more: it sup-ported Vietnam veterans as no other publicationsever have. That may seem natural since Brownand so many staffers are former ‘Nam vets, butthe thread is deeply woven into the magazine’sfabric. The 25th anniversary issue said in part,“Overnight, SOF offered Vietnam vets the recog-nition they deserved, a home in a sense, a meet-ing place for like souls. Like a banner, itacknowledged their sacrifices and continues todo so, loudly and loyally.”
The sense of camaraderie was evident in thefirst SOF convention I attended in the 1980s. Seat-ed beside me was a former Green Beret officerwho confided, “Being with these guys is the bestI’ve felt about myself since Vietnam.” Across thetable was an extraordinarily attractive blonde,wearing her late father’s dogtags. She had neverattended a military gathering but wanted to honorher dad’s service. She said, “I didn’t quite knowwhat to expect, but I’m really comfortable here.”
In the exhibit hall was all manner of gear, fromguns to underwear, as two middle-aged ladiesoffered men’s briefs in tiger stripe, zebra stripe, andleopard spot patterns. They were conspicuouslylonely: “I don’t understand it, Gertrude. The bikersreally go for this stuff!”
In 1985 the magazine’s 10th anniversary drewcongratulatory messages from a wide spectrum:Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, the USAF media office,Vietnam Veterans Coalition, two U.S. senators,Charlton Heston, and Arnold Schwarzenegger,among others.
Now, 25 years later, SOF and RKB are still goingstrong, headed for a fourth decade of reportingfrom the world’s hot spots, with a style and all itsown. Bob Brown sums up his philosophy with themotto: “Slay dragons, do noble deeds and never,never, never, give up.”
www.sofmag.com
ZINE AT THIRTY FIVEZINE AT THIRTY FIVE
s, do noble deeds and never,r, give up.” – R.K. Brown
Photo R.K.B. in Laos – SOF Photo
Nov 10 Blue Press Section 2 9/14/10 2:56 PM Page 41
