This was shared on Facebook earlier today. Like many of my generation, I grew up reading of Hoare’s adventures in the pages of Soldier of Fortune. It was with some glee that my address was 5 Commando Ave while stationed at Pope AFB.

“It is with a heavy but accepting heart that I announce that my father, Mike Hoare, died in his sleep and with dignity at a care facility in Durban today, 2 February 2020, aged 100 years.

He was an adventurer, soldier, explorer, yachtsman, motorcyclist, safari leader, author, hiker, raconteur, last of breed, and legend. Charming, enigmatic, fearless, proper, and a brilliant leader, ‘Mad Mike’ was an officer and a gentleman – with a bit of brigand thrown in.

But Mike described himself as ‘a genuine adventurer’. He identified with Sir Francis Drake, and liked the idea of going out sailing, and bringing Spanish booty back for the queen who would make you a knight. ‘You were respectable – even though you were a thief,’ he said.

Mike Hoare became world famous when his ‘Wild Geese’ saved southern Africa from the Reds when they crushed the Simbas in the Congo in 1965. And world infamous when his attempt to overthrow the socialist government of the Seychelles failed.

Rest in eternal peace, Colonel. We salute you”

-Chris Hoare-

Sean Cody passed away late last week in a car accident. A lifelong supporter of the Second Amendment, he was well known for his work as an attorney creating NFA trusts before it became commonplace. I hunted with him for several years where he was a regular fixture at the annual Texas Tactical Rifle Hunt. He leaves behind a wife and family.

He will be missed. May he Rest In Peace.

From the UDT SEAL Association-

It is with a broken heart that we inform you that Master Chief Rudy Boesch passed away last night. Master Chief was a legend in the SEAL and Special Operations community.

Rudy proudly served our Nation from 1944-1990 and his impact on so many individuals continues today.

Please join us in respecting his family’s wishes of privacy until we can release more details.

God Speed Rudy!

The man was a legend and very active here in Va Beach area. We are sad to see him go.

May He Rest In Peace

Reading the timeline each year is a sobering experience, but it doesn’t matter what time of year I look at the images from that day. Considering the current political climate, I look at them regularly. The images continue to haunt me and they always will.

There were 2996 immediate deaths on September 11th, 2001. There were people who cheered that day, celebrating an attack on America. Even now, I see members of our government trivialize the events of that day, desecrating the dead with their comments. Eighteen years have gone by and America forgets its dead.

Regardless of which way the political winds blow, I remain a patriot. But in a greater sense, I will also always honor those who stood with us on that day. After all, there were victims from 90 countries. A sick ideology attacked the world.

The crisis remains. Victims and rescuers alike suffer life threatening medical conditions due to the exposure to toxins during the attacks and continue to succumb to these lingering wounds. As a country, we must stand by them.

And then, there’s the war that has yet to end. In the ensuing 18 years we’ve definitely taken the fight to the enemy and even cut their head off a time or two. The names change, but they remain enemies of freedom. We must secure our future.

Even now, the world is faced with the continued threat of Islamic fundamentalism that targets our ideals in both word and deed. We must oppose them in every case, lest our efforts thus far, be in vain.

Never Forgive, Never Forget