A Paratrooper’s thoughts on the South African “Bush War”

Pastor Anthony Stander recounts his training, selection, and service as a member of the elite 1 Parachute Battalion in the South African Defence Force (SADF) during the early 80s, at the height of the South African ‘bush war’ in Southwest Africa and Angola.

The 'Parabats', as they were known, have been described as 'experts at foot work and small-war tactics.'

Anthony describes not only the day-to-day counterinsurgency operations of tracking and destroying SWAPO guerrillas, but also his experiences during the large SADF operations against Communist forces in Angola, such as Operation Carnation, Operation Protea and Operation Daisy.