Question 1
The way you storm into situations; is that your character or is it what you were taught while you were in the Army?
Answer
It was how my character developed from when I was little, but it got a boost in the Army!
Question 2
Would you say God is in you or is it Something Out There?
Answer
God is not in anybody and as far as I am concerned an entity out there.
Question 3
You escaped death so many times; do you feel special?
Answer
In some way or another I feel special that I survived so many times. I realized a long time ago that I could push the envelope a bit further than what was accepted and get away with it.
Question 4
Why are you still so normal after everything you’ve seen and been through? Did you go to a psychologist?
Answer
I am not sure what normal implies as I find my thoughts being very strange at times and I have to check myself on my behavior, but I am managing to live a normal life and I think the fact that I have no hang-ups of grudges makes things much better.
Question 5
Why do you think you are still alive?
Answer
Because I have the right attitude and project the right energy.
Question 6
Have you considered to have a movie or series made of BORN to STORM?
Answer
The book was written in such a way to be filmed as a series. I only need to find the movie maker to pick it up and do it, but that will happen sooner than later.
Question 7
Are you not afraid that the families of the people you had killed during the war could come after you now that they know you were the mission commander?
Answer
Sometimes I think about it and it could become a real threat, but I steer away from those thoughts as the power of subliminal communication could just trigger these ideas in the wrong people.
Question 8
What behavioural traits do you consider the most important ones in life?
Answer
To have the right attitude above anything else in the world. I believe you can achieve just about anything you want to achieve with the right attitude ….. and then….. the right timing. Those two are top elements of success.
Question 9
How long did it take you to write the book, from inception to print?
Answer
I wrote the first version in 2010 when I worked on a ship protecting it against pirates. Then it laid still for many years until it started to haunt me and two years ago I picked it up again and finished the process.
Question 10
Looking back on your military career, what do you regret most.
Answer
Nothing I did or did not do. Just we had some real idiots for Generals who did not understand to think creatively.
Question 11
Do you think politicians interfered to much in military operations?
Answer
For sure they do but that is what they do as military operations are always a tool in their hands.
Question 12
What was your proudest moment in your years of service?
Answer
To see that first Airborne artillery coming out of the C130 and to know that I made it happen!
Question 13
Did you find writing the book being cathartic?
Answer
In a way it relieved me from a lot of anxiety and guilt and made me feel so good about what I achieved.
Question 14
Are you planning on writing a second book, and if so, on what?
Answer
Yes, there will be a second book and it will deal with my life after Special Forces, which had just as many controversial events in another way. It just has to be told.
Question 15
Do you think the military prepared you adequately for civilian life?
Answer
Never ever did that happen. I made huge mistakes when getting into civilian life but I learned!
Question 16
Why does the Western World in particular continue to view the South African Army as an “Apartheid Army”?
Answer
It is a perception that is out there and we will never be able to cut that out. It does not matter how ill founded it is. We were the military tool in the hands of an Apartheid government. Period!
Question 17
Why didn’t the South African Military conduct a coup to replace the bumbling political leaders prior to 1994?
Answer
The Military leadership was not strong enough for such an action and they towed the political line all the time. They did not possess a strong enough revolutionary mentality and most were appointments who were found aligned with the political policy.
Question 18
Did you ever have a problem working with troops of color?
Answer
The only challenge was language. Initially I could not speak Portuguese and all the troops were Portuguese speaking. So I had to learn to speak Portuguese very quickly. Later it was a mixture of all languages and most were not so affluent in English, but once the combat started it went so good as we all understood how that was to happen and hand-signals were sufficient. I loved working with troops of color!
Question 19
What did you want to achieve in writing this book?
Answer
Initially to tell my story to others and mainly my family, especially my kids; but soon after the release it became evident that the book was destined for much higher goals and I want it to become an internationally famed book which will be filmed.
Question 20
Which is your favorite part of story in the book?
Answer
The part where the nurse seduced me in the linen store.
Question 21
If you have to summarize the book in one sentence, what would it be?
Answer
A sequence of events which followed each other and continuously enhanced the character of the story to rise way above the average standard and even beyond to a point of absolute Self Actualization.
Question 22
When your book gets filmed, who would you like to play your role?
Answer
I am not sure of the exact person but I like the actors in the Chicago series. Anyone of those guys can do it.
Question 23
Of all the so called values of a soldier, which one would you rate as the mother of all values
Answer
Attitude..... maybe not so much of a value but the most important trait!
Question 24
Those fellow soldiers, of any rank, that irritated you during your time as a serving member, what was it that irritated you the most ?
Answer
In Afrikaans: Gatkruip! I hated that so much! I would never do that ever!
Question 25
What inspired you to write this book ?
Answer
I realized that I had an extraordinary life with many extraordinary events and I reasoned I need to share it with others as it should not go untold..... especially for my family.... the kids more than anything so they would know who their Dad was and how he went about in life.
Question 26
If you could change anything in your life as a soldier, what would that be?
Answer
Not really anything as everything that happened to me had a good outcome. Something which encouraged me to leave the Army was the utter stupidity and short sighted-ness of Army HQ Generals Staff in the late 90's. I have never experienced such a bunch of ego driven idiots in one forum in my life and they had no idea what was coming their way and would not listen. It could have been so much different if they had another attitude, but they did not!.....a nice part for my next book!
Question 27
You have written a very honest, frank and informative book. In retrospect, what changes would you make if still in the writing process , if any ?
Answer
This is very new to me and I was scared shitless to set the book free because I opened a lot of my inside to others who might not deal with it gently, but it all turned out so well that I am actually on cloud 9 about my book and I am over the Moon with the critics..... even from other countries it is good.... but maybe a little more detail here and there would be good!
Question 28
Have you found peace with your God ?
Answer
This is the difficult one to explain. You ask about my God. This took me a long time to figure out and I think I have it sort of sorted out. I don’t think God is in any way directly involved in anyone’s life. He has other stuff to do at a much higher level to be troubled who lives and who dies. We were born with a brain and a decision making ability and everything which happens to us is purely because of the decisions other people and we make..... nothing to do with God. There is no Heaven and there is no Hell and we keep on being recycled bmo reincarnation. The major outcome of our lives are driven by our own attitude and the energy we carry deep inside ourselves.
Ever since I stopped praying to God to help me with this and that and stopped being dependent upon Him for who and what I am and become.... and I took full accountability for who I am and what I am and how I live, things turned to the better in a major way for me. There are nice guidelines in the Bible, but the Bible in not the word of God as God had never ever spoken to any man.... never the less help him write a book.
Bottom line is that God allows you to be the creator of your own destiny by means of your attitude, energy and decisions.