Product Description

Mike Curtis, a former coal miner and likely Welsh rugby international, served with 2 Para in the Falklands before going on to join the SAS. In this book Curtis, describes his gruelling experiences in the Falklands and some of his SAS operations. Curtis talks about Goose Green, the first land battle of the Falklands conflict. The outcome there was to set the tone for the remainder of the war, affect international opinion, and morale and determination of both armies. The first of his SAS operations that Curtis details took place in Iraq where he spent several weeks behind enemy lines. The second, in Bosnia, Curtis found himself working closely with all factions and leading a protection team guarding visiting heads of state.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20352 in Books
• Published on: 1998-06-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 544 pages

About the Author
Mike Curtis
Born and bred in the valleys, Mike Curtis followed his schoolmates down the pit at the age of sixteen. He decided, however, to break the mould and applied to join the Parachute Regiment in 1979. Enlisted in 2 Para, he served in Northern Ireland and then went out to the Falkland Islands. He joined the SAS in 1986.

Customer Reviews

Spot-on book, Gritty & to the point
An excellent account of his 15 year career in the military. From his roots in the Rhondda Valley as a miner to the Falklands at Goose Green with the Paras; to Iraq as a member of the SAS. This book operates at many levels. It gives the reader a good insight into the Selection process and the continuous training these men undergo to be the Elite of Elite. Mikes' combat experience really hits home to anyone who thinks that they could join the SAS. This is for real, combat is an experience I feel none of us can begin to understand unless you have served. This bok helps me visualise the pain that s war from a soldiers viewpoint. Friends can be lost as quickly as they are made. As a kid I remember seeing the Falklands on TV. To read about someone like Mike who was there really is an eye opener. As is the whole of the book, truly compelling. I feel priviledged to have shared his experiences....

brilliant
What a good book . I have read many SF books and this is up as one of the best ones as it shows the difficulties in balancing army life with your home life eg marriage. I have great respect for people like mike who have risked so much for us. Very good book.

Absolutely fascinating
As an interested reader of books about the special forces, this book certainly did not disappoint me. A fascinating account of his early life in the mines of the Rhondda Valley, followed by his subsequent army career, this book had me gripped from start to finish. I had only recently read "Sabre Squadron" by Cameron Spence, and it is interesting to see the references to the same events in both books, for example, in Spence's book, he mentions an SAS patrol in the Gulf War being accidentally bombed by an American plane, which turned out to be Mike Curtis' patrol in this book. I am just about to start reading Spence's second book, "All Necessary Measures" (about his time in Bosnia), and I'm sure I will find similar references between the books. This book is an absolutely fascinating read, full of action, humour (Welsh humour, at that!)... and rugby! I hope that Curtis goes along the same path as Andy McNab and Chris Ryan. Cymru am byth.