Comments from Readers of this book:
Wynand du Toit 08/10/2019
Just finished "Born to Storm." Herman congratulations on a great book, a thorough account of your life!! So nice to read your take on the operations we did together ... A must read!!
Barry Patterson 15/Okt/2019
Theo Anaxagoras 16/10/2019
Herman has written an account of his personal and military life in easily understandable soldier’s language that few people would not be able to relate to. He shares rare insights into the personalities and internal politics that dominated the SADF at that time and this is probably the first book involving the bush war that provides the reader with such insights into some of the "imperfections" of the SADF and, in particular, South African Special Forces, at that time, based on personal experience. His account is provided in a very "human" manner rather than the usual factual, historical accounts, quite unlike many other books I have read on the bush war. It is an excellent read and I had great difficulty in putting the book down once I had started reading. Well done. Born To Storm
Spot on!
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This is not a war book but rather a description of an individual’s personal growth and honest appraisal of his life. Many, many life lessons in these pages. A must read for any South African.
Allan Richts 16/10/2019
Excellent book, couldn’t put it down, some very interesting insights
I really enjoyed the book. Well done Herman Van Niekerk. Proud to have shared some time working with you at different times.
Eugenio Marsicano: 26 Oct 2019
A must read, Born to Storm by Herman Van Niekerk.
It reads like a factual novel, not a war documentary.It gives an insight into a challenging upbringing, and a defiant character, that produced a HC Silver recipient.He liberally shares his conflicts with the system, religion, certain individuals, his love of the wild and his unashamed exploits with many women.
Whilst the book covers the author’s upbringing and extensive military career, there are specific chapters that would be of particular interest to members on our Savannah groups.In my opinion Herman gives a very balanced perspective of Operation Savannah, and of what transpired at Ebo and Bridge 14.
I must qualify that I was never anywhere near any battles, but have tried to acquaint myself through various books that have covered the events. As an outsider, I find his perspectives realistic.
As a Permanent Force member, he gives insight into life, careers, politics, and dirty tricks, within the SADF.
Herman also gives an good overall insight into his broad military experience, from Parabats, Artillery, DHQ and Special forces, in many daring operations.
He could be best as a Rebel with a cause.
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Herman touches on his personal interactions with many high profile politicians, military men and Generals, not that he holds a candle for all of them.
These include PW Botha , Pik Botha , General Jannie Geldenhuys and General Constant Viljoen who he served as Aide de Camp for a year, and many others.
He was unwittingly linked to the Robert Smit murders, and the Coup d’Etat in the Seychelles.
Get your copy, you won’t be disappointed.
Claude Orenstein (Australia)
Greetings Herman
I have made a start on your book - just thought I’d let you know and it is enthralling thus far just entering Art school.
I’m not sure if you intended it but there is a hint of Herman Charles Bosman’s humour which I haven’t read for thirty years! You write seriously but there is something there which makes me chuckle. I love being able to sense your accent as well.
Will write again when I finish. All the best.
Brigadier General Jock Harris
04 March 2020
I met Herman during Ops Savannah in 1975. I was almost a decade older than him and I mention the age gap because his flamboyant, fearless and sometimes seemingly reckless approach to what he did, actually worried me.
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We were not in the same corps in the Army, resulting in me only seeing him once in a blue moon during our careers. The book fills in a lot of gaps, things I never knew about him.
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I can relate to characters and incidents that he writes about and found the book an informative read. The influence that his family had on his approach to life was an eye opener and almost sad at times. I hope sincerely that Herman has found peace with his God.
Writing this book, I am sure that he learned a lot about himself. I am of the opinion that writing the book was like scouring the spirit inside him, everything out in the open and no holds barred. That in itself, takes guts and honesty, two of the most important values of a soldier, in my humble opinion.
HI Eeben Barlow, great review,
I got the book just after it was published, and it's worth reading.
BTW, sent you an email a while ago with attachment on quotes from you. best!
I have to concur with Eeben....A very enjoyable book....Not your regular War Book.....It was written in a lighthearted way and dealt with a rather serious subject matter during a very unsure time in the lives young boys becoming men in a very short space of time.....What I enjoyed particularly was that My Unit and I actually parttook of some of the missions described at exactly the same time, therefore definitely a factual recollection of historical events....Thank you again for your very special inscription Herman
Thinus de Klerk 02 Mar 2020
Herman’s book is like Monthy Python; You’ll either like it or hate it but do not be influenced by how others experienced the book before you cast a verdict. Read it for yourself. I did and overall I enjoyed the book.
In his foreword Herman wrote “I tell it as it happened and have my peace with it all” and that is how I found his book; no pulling of punches but also refreshing and frank. At times a Herman Charles Bosman or Ben Trovato’s way of telling a story surfaced and at other times I asked ‘so what’? The latter merely because I was more interested in his military career than his upbringing however by including it Herman set the scene for later events in his life.
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This might appeal to readers who want the whole story and it truly starts from the beginning; from where he could have had a fighter pilot as a dad but who was shot down and killed (“now isn’t that a fucked-up way for me to start off ?”). Some of the experiences, events or Herman’s perception or questioning thereof will not sit well with some readers as it will force them to re-evaluate certain values and beliefs, personal or historical, they have.
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I certainly do not agree with all that Herman wrote but that is what makes this book an exception as there are many writers who sugar-coat or tone things down to fit into the current narrative.
Not Herman; he dared and had the guts to be different.
As mentioned I was more interested in Herman’s military career and although he mentioned that it was not so much the exact detail of operations, which most of are discussed, or attempted to be, in other military books, new detail came to light.
Eeben Barlow
( Owner/Commander of Executive Outcomes and STTEP)
08/02/2020
REVIEW: BORN TO STORM
I am very pleased to see that many ex-SADF soldiers are writing their memoirs. If books are not written, our past history—no matter how one wants to regard it—will be lost forever.
‘Born to Storm’ by Herman Van Niekerk (HCS, SM, MMM) is a book about an artillery officer who opted to expand his horizon in the South African Defence Force (SADF) by volunteering to join the South African Special Forces.
The book, based entirely on facts, is both humorous and serious, pulls no punches, and is written in Herman’s easy style, making it a pleasant read.
‘Born to Storm’ gives an insight into his heritage, and charts his childhood, his schooling, and eventually, like all young white boys at that time, his entry into the SADF to do his obligatory National Service. Called up to do his National Service in the South African Air Force, Herman was adamant that he wanted to become a paratrooper. It was during the initial Parachute Battalion selection that Air Force Private van Niekerk first encountered some men from Special Forces.
Later, as an NCO in 1 Para Bn, Herman decided to make the SADF his career. He writes of becoming an officer, training for his first real operation ‘Operation Savannah’—and the SADF’s entry into Angola. He relates a humorous version of a ‘good soldier’.
During Operation Savannah, he came to realise the value of life, and what it meant to truly be a soldier, along with some dangerous personal traits he started developing, especially when it comes to what is right, and what is wrong. He also rebelled against ‘the system’, a character trait Herman would later become associated with.
Deployed as a forward artillery observer during Operation Savannah, Herman was wounded and evacuated to I Military Hospital in Pretoria for treatment. During his time convalescing in hospital, the actions at the well-known ‘Bridge 14’ took place. He returned to Angola shortly thereafter and again saw action at the front.
During the final engagements with the Cubans in Angola, Herman’s views on politics were solidified – and he isn’t kind on them. Nor does he hide his disdain for poor planning and clearly expresses his thoughts about things that went wrong during the operation.
During his free-fall parachute course, his decision to go to Special Forces was cemented as they ‘did stuff’ he wanted to do. Prior to leaving the artillery, he was awarded the Honoris Crux for bravery in action in Angola.
After a deployment in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) Herman finally got his wish and passed his selection for Special Forces. He relates numerous Special Forces operations in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique and Zambia, all with brutal honesty - and humour at times.
The book does not focus on the detail of the operations he partook in but rather on the peripherals where he highlights what he experienced as good and bad behaviours. He tells it as it happened.
‘Born to Storm’ is a book that does not focus on the ‘We were the best!’ It is an honest account of one man’s journey through the SADF, and the good and bad he experienced.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and I am sure many others will too.
The book can be ordered from Bush War Books
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, a fantastic read. I just wanted to read the Foreword, well, I just could not put it down again untill finished. There were no specific highlghts, the whole book is a highlight. Thank you Herman.