Writer of Non-fiction and Fiction books and articles
Michael McWilliams
THE BOOKS
Whether fact or fiction, the books of Michael McWilliams radiate the realism only real battlefield experience can impart.
The sights, smells and sounds of combat are nothing like Hollywood would have us believe.
Sometimes apparent bravery is just the well-drilled soldier doing automatically what he was trained to do. At other times, the real gird-your-loins for hell mindset is required to get the job done.
Battle for Cassinga
ISBN-978-1-907677-39-7
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Battle for Cassinga is written as a first-hand account by an ordinary South African paratrooper who was at the 1978 assault on the Angolan headquarters of PLAN, the armed wing of SWAPO (South West Africa People's Organization).
The book relates why the South African government took the political risk in attacking the fortress in an external operation and examines the SWAPO claims that Cassinga was a refugee camp guarded by a few PLAN soldiers. It also explains why Sam Nujoma, the SWAPO leader, had no option but to perpetuate this falsehood.
The battle, although a resounding success, suffered some setbacks which could have been disastrous to the South African paratroopers had they not maintained the initiative.
Improvisations made by the commander Col Jan Breytenbach ensured that a flawed jump and poor intelligence did not adversely affect the outcome.
Undetected and unforeseen Soviet-made anti-aircraft guns used against both aircraft and ground troops threatened to derail the attack.
An appearance of a large column of armour manned by Cubans from the nearby town of Techamutete, when half the South African force had already left the battleground, placed the remaining lightly armed paratroopers in mortal danger.
Landmines laid by the South Africans, together with the brave actions of the South African Air Force pilots saved the day, allowing the remaining forces to withdraw safely.
The Battle for Cassinga looks at all the players in a critical light. SWAPO and PLAN, the SADF and the commanders from both sides, Dimo Amaambo of PLAN and Jan Breytenbach of the SADF as well as the brave soldiers from all sides who fought for their political ideologies but perhaps, more importantly, for their own band of brothers.
Osama's Angel
ISBN-978-1-506146-54-6
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Bin Laden was captured at Abbottabad, interrogated in Germany while he was supposedly buried at sea.
Using an ancient Muslim faith-based technique, married to hi-tech imagery, he is fooled into believing he is talking to the Angel Gabriel instead of the CIA.
A tailored drone mission seeks out the locations of the al Qaeda leaders and allows the elimination of many of bin Laden's henchmen. The operational detail of weapons, aircraft and battle drills will delight the reader and the sub-plot of CIA involvement in the drug trade is persuasive and detailed. The whole story fits all the known facts that it could very well be the truth of the matter.
