Legacy Conversations – Frans Fourie – 1 & 4 Recce (1 Recce Commander to SSO Special Forces)

Colonel Frans Fourie speaks to us about his 18 years in South African Special Forces. He passed Selection in 1978 and by 1995 was the commander of 1 Reconnaissance Regiment and before that, acting 2IC of 4 Recce. During his career, he went on many operations, mostly with the seaborne specialists, 4 Recce. Some were spectacular, like Ops Kerslig where he won the Honoris Crux and many more. His list of decorations besides the Honoris Crux (HC) is the Southern Cross Medal (SM), Military Merit Medal (MMM), Honourably Mentioned in Dispatches, Pro-Patria Medal, Southern Africa Medal, General Service Medal, Unitas Medal, Good Service Medals (Bronze 10 years and Silver 20 years) and Commendation Certificates from Officers Commanding Special Forces, 4 Special Forces and Chief of the Army.
In this episode, he speaks of his time with 1 Recce as commanding officer dealing with the integration of non-statutory forces into Special Forces. A parachute accident almost killed him and cost him his operational command, moving up to Special Forces Brigade Headquarters as Senior Staff Officers Operations (SSO), then Chief of Staff Special Forces Brigade (2IC Special Forces Brigade), and then to Army High Command as SSO Special Forces. It is a fascinating episode describing the logic behind the famous Operator’s Badge as well as his close relationship with God. He also reveals if a biography is being written in the background.
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Links:
www.recce.co.za
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