Preparedness Notes for Sunday — March 17, 2019

Today is the 100th birthday of famed mercenary Thomas Michael “Mad Mike” Hoare ^[1] (born 17 March 1919). The Infogalactic wiki has some details on his colorful life:

“Hoare was born in India ^[2].^{[1] [3]} He was educated in England ^[4]. He served in North Africa ^[5] and Italy as an officer in the London Irish Rifles ^{[6][2] [7]} during World War II ^[8], and achieved the rank of Captain. After the war, he completed his training as a chartered accountant ^[9], and qualified in 1948.^{[3] [10]} He emigrated to Durban ^[11], Natal Province ^[12], Union of South Africa ^[13], where he ran safaris ^[14] and became a soldier-for-hire in various African countries.

During the Congo Crisis ^[15] Mike Hoare organized and led two separate mercenary groups:

1960–1961. Major Mike Hoare’s first mercenary action was in Katanga ^[16], a province ^[17] trying to break away from the newly independent Congo ^[18]. The unit was called “4 Commando.” During this time he married Phyllis Simms, an airline stewardess.

1964. Congolese Prime Minister Moïse Tshombe ^[19] hired “Major” Mike Hoare to lead a military unit called 5 Commando ANC ^[20] (later led by John Peters ^[21]) (not to be confused with No.5 Commando ^[22], the British Second World War commando force) made up of about 300 men most of whom were from South Africa. His second in command was a fellow ex-British Army officer, Commandant Alistair Wicks. The unit’s mission was to fight a revolt known as the Simba Rebellion ^[23]. Later Hoare and his mercenaries worked in concert with Belgian paratroopers ^[24], Cuban exile ^[25] pilots, and CIA-hired mercenaries who attempted to save 1,600 civilians (mostly Europeans and missionaries ^[26]) in Stanleyville ^[27] from the Simba rebels in Operation Dragon Rouge ^[28]. This operation saved many lives.^{[4] [29]} Hoare was later promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in the ANC and 5 Commando expanded into a two-battalion force. Hoare commanded 5 Commando from July 1964 to November 1965.^{[5]” [30]}

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 81 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest ^[31]. The nearly $11,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

1. A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public.
2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,095 value),
3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses ^[32], excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper ^[33]. These have hammer forged, chrome-lined barrels and a hard case, to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel. This can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools. It also provides a compact carry capability in a hard case or in 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees ^[34] in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
6. A $250 gift certificate good for any product ^[35] from Sunflower Ammo,
7. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses ^[36].

Second Prize:

1. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 ^[37] Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
3. A Three-Day Deluxe Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $190 value),
4. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord ^[38] (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
5. An assortment of products along with a one hour consultation on health and wellness from Pruitt’s Tree Resin (a $265 value).

Third Prize:

1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of ^[39] Directive 21 (a $275 value),
2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
3. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections ^[40], a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances.

Round 81 ends on March 28th, so get busy writing and e-mail ^[41] us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.