The Crippled Eagles

The Crippled Eagles
Unofficial emblem of the Crippled Eagles
Dates of operation	July 1964–1979
Motives	Defense of Rhodesia
Active region(s)	/  Rhodesia (now  Zimbabwe)
Ideology	Anti-communism
Notable attacks	Participation in the Rhodesian Bush War

The Crippled Eagles was the informal name of a group of American expatriates that fought with the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Rhodesian Bush War. The name and emblem came from author Robin Moore who offered a house in Salisbury as a meeting place for the Americans who served in all units of the Security Forces, but never had their own unit.^[1] The name of "Crippled Eagle" and badge was meant to symbolize their abandonment by the US government. Robin Moore and Barbara Fuca tried to publish a book with the same title, but because of the political controversy the book was refused by publishers and appeared only in early 1990s.^[2] The book was then published as The White Tribe, in 1991.

Background

One of the reasons for many American citizens to join the Crippled Eagles was the Soldier of Fortune Magazine report about both the Rhodesian Bush War and the means of entry into of the Rhodesian Security Forces. From 1976 to 1980 almost every issue contained one or more articles about the ongoing conflict.^{[citation needed]} The first issue of the magazine in 1976 actually contained two such articles prompting some Americans to travel to Rhodesia.^[3] After 1980, their attention turned to Angola, Soweto and other hotspots around the world.

Numbering approximately 300 men, some with previous combat experience in Vietnam and other theatres of war, others with none, volunteered to fight in the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Rhodesian Bush War. They did so not as mercenaries but as ordinary soldiers for a pay packet in local currency. The Americans suffered seven combat fatalities and many others were wounded in combat, some maimed for life.

Members killed

During the course of its existence the following American citizens died for Rhodesia:^[4]

Family Name	First Name	Rank	Rhodesian Force Number	Date Killed	Details
Coey	John Alan	Corporal	725702	01975-07-19 July 19, 1975	John Alan Coey graduated from Ohio State University in 1972 and flew to Rhodesia the day after he graduated. He first served in the Rhodesian Special Air Service, and afterwards in the Rhodesian Light Infantry, in the 2 Commando, with the attached Rhodesian Army Medical Corps. He was Killed in Action on July 19, 1975 by a gunshot wound. He was the first American out of the Crippled Eagles to die for Rhodesia. His journal, A Martyr Speaks was published in 1988, posthumously.
Clarke	George William	Trooper	728197	01977-05-15 May 15, 1977	He was born in Canada, he came from a large family of 9 children. He lived in South Africa, and later in Southern California, according to some sources.[5] He was a Vietnam Veteran, serving in the United States Marine Corps, and was decorated with the Purple Heart twice during his Marine career. He was aged 28 when he was KIA. He served in the Rhodesian Light Infantry, in the Support Commando. He was Killed in Action on May 15, 1977 around Mtoko, in the then Tribal Trust Land, inside Rhodesia proper.
Biederman	Richard L.	Sergeant		01977-12-06 December 6, 1977	He was from Minnesota, first he served in the Rhodesian Light Infantry, in the 2 Commando, and afterwards he was granted to enter the Rhodesian Special Air Service. He was killed on Active Service on December 6, 1977, in Mozambique, during an accidental shooting, but sources vary.[6][7]
Battaglia	Frank P.	Trooper	728515	01978-03-06 March 6, 1978	He was born in Florida, but later was a New Yorker. He was a Vietnam Veteran having served with the US Army 173rd Airborne, and reportedly wounded twice in the Vietnam War. He also served a full contract with the Spanish Foreign Legion. He came to Rhodesia with his wife, and went to C squadron SAS training troop. After SAS training he joined the Rhodesian Light Infantry, the 3 Commando, 14 Troop. He was Killed in Action on March 6, 1978, around Kavalamanja in Zambia during Operation Turmoil by a ZIPRA machine gun nest. Frank P. Battaglia's wife served with the Rhodesian Air Force, packing parachutes. He was an avid poker player and gave some young Rhodesian soldiers poker lessons while playing for matches.[8][9]
Byrne	Joseph Patrick	Trooper	728721	01978-10-26 October 26, 1978	Joseph Patrick Byrne was an Irish-American from Kearney New Jersey. He joined the Rhodesian Army in October 1977. He was a regular in the crowd of foreign volunteers that socialized in the Monomatapa Hotel and a friend of American author Robin Moore. He joined 3 Commando, Rhodesian Light Infantry on March 24, 1978 from Recruit Intake 162. He was Killed in Action on Operation Repulse at the age of 26, on October 26, 1978 around Middle Sabi or Lower Sabi inside in the Mutema Tribal Trust Land, in Rhodesia proper when his patrol came under fire in an open area devoid of cover.[10]
Dwyer	Stephen Michael	Trooper	729803	01979-07-16 July 16, 1979	Stephen Michael Dwyer was from Boston, Massachusetts. He served a Tour with the U.S. Marine Corps in Korea. He joined the Rhodesian Light Infantry, the 3 Commando. He was Killed in Action, at the age of 27, while coming to the aid of fatally wounded fellow American comrade, Hugh John McCall, on July 16, 1979 on the Buffalo Range Area, in Rhodesia proper.[10]
McCall	Hugh John	Sergeant	727941	01979-07-16 July 16, 1979	Hugh John McCall was a Vietnam Veteran having served with the US Army 173rd Airborne. He was Killed in Action on July 16, 1979 on the Buffalo Range Area, in Rhodesia proper. A well-known book on the Rhodesian Bush War, authored by Chris Cocks[11] is dedicated to his memory.

Notes

1. ^ "SALUTE THE TROOPERS". rhodesia.nl. 2009. http://www.rhodesia.nl/saluteth.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-30. 
2. ^ Robin Moore and Barbara Fuca. The White Tribe (November 1991 ed.). Affiliated Writers of America/Publishers. pp. 522. ISBN 1879915030. 
3. ^ Spc. Nikki St. Amant/The Bayonet (April 29, 2005). "Soldier of fortune: Infantry Center’s Command Sgt. Maj. Mike Kelso". tradoc. http://www.tradoc.army.mil/pao/people_portraits/April%202005/045305.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-30. 
4. ^ Binda, Alexandre (2008). Cocks, Chris. ed. The Saints: The Rhodesian Light Infantry. Johannesburg: 30° South Publishers. pp. 527–529. ISBN 978-1920143077. 
5. ^ Pg 59 - Gerald Horne. From the Barrel of a Gun: The United States and the War against Zimbabwe, 1965-1980 (December 5, 2000 ed.). The University of North Carolina Press. p. 400. ISBN 0807849030. 
6. ^ "RHODESIAN ROLL OF HONOUR (A-C)". mazoe.com. 2007. http://www.mazoe.com/ROH_A_C.html. Retrieved 2009-03-30. "Biederman, Richard L., Sergeant - Special Air Service - DOAS in an accidental shooting in Mozambique - 06-Dec-77" 
7. ^ "Sgt Richard Biederman". theoutnumbered.com. 2009. http://www.theoutnumbered.com/view/639/22355/Sgt-Richard-Biederman.html. Retrieved 2009-03-30. 
8. ^ "Frank P. Battaglia". therli. 2009. http://therli.com/C_RollofHonour_Frank.asp. Retrieved 2009-03-30. ^{[dead link]}
9. ^ Wall Street Journal 30 April 1979
10. ^ ^{a b} Gerald Horne. From the Barrel of a Gun: The United States and the War against Zimbabwe, 1965-1980 (December 5, 2000 ed.). The University of North Carolina Press. p. 400. ISBN 0807849030. 
11. ^ Chris Cocks. Fireforce: One Man's War in the Rhodesian Light Infantry (July 1, 2001 ed.). Covos Day. p. 296. ISBN 1919874321. 

Further reading

• John Alan Coey. A Martyr Speaks (March 1, 1988 ed.). CPA Books. p. 246. ISBN 0932050417. 
• Robin Moore. The Crippled Eagles (1980 ed.). Manor Books. p. 638. ISBN 0532233662. 
• Gerald Horne. From the Barrel of a Gun: The United States and the War against Zimbabwe, 1965-1980 (December 5, 2000 ed.). The University of North Carolina Press. p. 400. ISBN 0807849030. 

External links

• The Outnumbered, the Crippled Eagles from which most of the above information is taken
• Rhodesian Bush War historical research / discussion forum
• Salute the Troopies
• Sgt. Maj. Mike Kelso's look-back