Steve Earle -- Mercenary Song

Lyrics
Me and ol' Bily we both come from Georgia
Met Hank out in New Mexico
We're bound for Duranqo to join Pancho Villa
We hear that he's payin' in gold
I guess a man's got to do what he's best at
Ain't found nothin' better so far
Been called mercenaries and men with no country
Just soldiers in search of a war
And we're bound for the border
We're soldiers of fortune
And we'll fight for no country but we'll die for good pay
Under the flag of of the greenback dollar
Or the peso down Mexico way
When this war is over might go back to Georgia
And settle down quiet some where
I'll most likely pack up and head south for Chile
Heard tales there's some trouble down there
And we're bound...

[@pohjantuulet247]

"They kept wanting their sons back from overseas, so they went and called us to relieve them. Nobody wants us back, so we're here to stay. So long as the pay's good."

[@boburwell9921]

I have a friend that stayed in Afghanistan since 2010. He must be worth millions by now. Here's to you Billy 🍺

[@rontate7719]

Was aquainted with two mercenaries,call contractors. Black water,triple canopy one other company.They switched back and forth. The pay was like 150 k for 8 or 9 months. Mostly Iraq but they did Afganistan too

[@Fallenscion]

@@rontate7719 I feel like if you're smart enough to survive as a mercenary, you're probably smart enough to make it Ina career that pays just as well but won't get you killed. Then again, I suppose it's a temperament thing. How many mercenaries would be happy with a desk job?

[@greyvr4336]

@@Fallenscion I read an article in the old "Soldier of Fortune" magazine by a merc out of Africa. This was before the big houses like Blackwater. Said the pay was shit, the conditions were shit, most of the people with him had never shot an AK before, they were pretty sure there was urine in the beer, and when the CIA showed up and told him he was in violation of somethingernother and he better come with them or else, he said "Thank you sir!" and took the ride home.

[@ThatGuy64804]

The era of good pay is over. If you're still in that line of work, it's because you get to pick the side you agree with, and do something about it. Politics be damned. Purpose over pay.

[@jimmartin7881]

I remember in the late 70s-early 80s there was tons of "This gun for hire" ads in S.O.F. As a young kid I had a few as pen pals and with the advent of the internet found out these guys weren't bullshitting, they were no joke. Old men by now but I bet they saw some true insanity during their heyday.

[@ullekhambone2004]

Yes Robert K Brown ran around with some of them old boys, I remember having coffee with a few at Bragg.

[@theccpisaparasite8813]

There really were a lot of them in SoF. I even considered it when I left the Army. The pay was really terrific, about 10x what I was making in the military. OTOH, no insurance, no medical, and the jobs were mostly in Africa. The idea of malaria and dysentery did not appeal to me.

[@HeronMarkedBlade-ef7zz]

@@theccpisaparasite8813 Same here, Medics were getting offered ridiculous amounts back in 04 time frame.... but I was married then and didn't go. Kind of regret it now all these years later.

[@theccpisaparasite8813]

@@HeronMarkedBlade-ef7zz Medics! I bet they were paying some coin. My gig was that I was a WO qualified and flight rated on UH-60 and AH-64. The pay was fantastic but there wasn't much in the way of "desirable" jobs. A lot of UH-1 gigs in Africa but I wasn't up for that. The idea of putting Joseph Kony in bodybag appealed to me, but Africa fighting in a war i couldn't care less about was not appealing. Nor was Dengue or Malaria, or West Nile or God knows what else ... unattractive

[@HeronMarkedBlade-ef7zz]

@@theccpisaparasite8813 yeahhhh really depends on the outfit. Not looking forward to getting set on fire with a tire chained to me if things went tits up. Africa is one of those places you can just fall off the map and they will never even find your bones.

[@codyprice4592]

Reminds me of a Marine that passed away recently that I read about. I didnt know him, but he was a Former US Marine with combat tours, joined the French Foreign Legion, and then fought with the rebels against Isis. Never seemed to fit in, but only fit into chaos. Several degrees in badassery for sure. Rah.

[@TheCrystalJules]

I read an article about him too... people like that deserve better.

[@khajiitty]

"the rebels against Isis" So CIA funds them both to fight each other? 's coo', bro.

[@TheCrystalJules]

@khajitty I'm pretty sure the CIA & US in general dropped all military support for Rojava. And whether the CIA is still funding and arming ISIS or not, we know at least in that part of Syria Turkey our wonderful NATO ally is supporting ISIS incursions into Rojava because they can't stand the idea of an Autonomous Kurdish Confederalist state on their border (they already can't stand and attack Iraqi Kurdistan, but Rojava seems to be a bigger ideological threat (probably why the US isn't offering assistance there any more), and it's my understanding the US is doing jack shit to stop them so 🤷🏻‍♀️ I could be totally wrong though. I'm sure we can both agree whatever the CIA is pushing, we don't want it. But they're pretty good at obscuring involvement enough that anything could be pro-CIA or anti-CIA and that uncertainty is an asset of theirs that is heavily exploited.

[@berserkerlewis7089]

Rah

[@khajiitty]

@@TheCrystalJules My bad, b. I thought you were talking about those moderate beheaders, not kurds.

[@raulcarlos1615]

My grandfather met Pancho Villa when he was about ten years old, Mr. Villa looked him right in the eye and said, " boy, bring some water for my horse", my grandfather did, and off rode Mr. Villa and his no longer thirsty horse! Lol

[@anatomicallycorrectmuppets8180]

Dubious

[@raulcarlos1615]

Of course its dubious! Everyone knows Pancho Villa and his men rode elephants!

[@junkie_cosmonaut9622]

Pancho Villa died in 1923

[@dangerdan2592]

​@@junkie_cosmonaut9622So what?

[@old-worldghost3451]

My great grandad on my ma's side was 14 in old Mexico when Pancho Villa took on General Pershing. I reckon your story is probably true, Senor Villa was a legend around the time of the First World War.

[@andyjames3483]

Roland the Headless Thompson gunner still keeps up the fight!

[@stevej1031]

Not going to say it hasn't happened anywhere else. Warren Zevon said it the best. Check out the Dogs of War with Christopher Walken. Send lawyers guns and money.

[@morecopemorerope4372]

@@professorronin9648 what happened in portland?

[@josephgioielli]

@@morecopemorerope4372 The original line was Berkeley. At the time it was a city known for left wing rioting. Just google Portland and civil unrest. A lot has happened over the past year or so.

[@morecopemorerope4372]

@@josephgioielli oh ya the past year

[@gsd4me00]

@@josephgioielli. Mate, if you need to explain it to them, they still won't understand.

[@mikeholloway2625]

My life for 39 years. Mike from Sumter, South Carolina. Still here. Can't say it all payed, but I think I got what I deserved. I am ok with the score... I would do it all again...

[@John.McMillan]

Aye, Fuck it, Ill go some more.

[@John.McMillan]

@@boburwell9921 Nobody is anything special lad, Some die for money, Some die for glory, Some die for a flag, Doesent matter who you are or what you do, All our blood is red.

[@John.McMillan]

@@boburwell9921 You have fun with that lad.

[@ryanforster8761]

u mind me asking what places u have been? contractor?

[@boburwell9921]

Where have you been Ryan

[@dawg141]

"I guess a man's got to do what he's best at Ain't found nothin' better so far" That's my story in the Army. Infantry 77-97

[@ArmyBoiSweat]

did your 20 and got out? good on ya soldier

[@dawg141]

@@ArmyBoiSweat Yes, I got a DD 214, a Blue ID card and present from Uncle Sugar once a month. Amazing!!!!

[@boburwell9921]

Airborne?

[@dawg141]

@@boburwell9921 No. Mech and Light.

[@boburwell9921]

@@dawg141 I enlisted right as you were etsing. 19D

[@markcollins2666]

Well done. As Heath Ledger's Joker said, "If you're good at something, you don't do it for free."

[@jdsmith542]

The writers copied that from Horace Greenly.

[@markcollins2666]

@@jdsmith542, He also said, "Go West, young man!" That's advice I took... So far west, it's east! Southeast Asia! Basically, from the East coast of the Atlantic, to the East coast of the Pacific. And I share it with you, although admittedly, it's not for everyone.

[@jackalister1662]

Steve is one of the most prolific singers/ songwriters of our generation. One of the dying few who can actually tell a story in song that you can understand and identify in some way with,even if you’re not a badass country boy.

[@timh6411]

I agree. Check out Wolf Braxton for story songs too. He sings some good ones. Here is one kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpS8g2mmZc-DhtEfeature=shared

[@DonMarquez-wj7ir]

Did he do a huge sing-along in Galway Ireland? Galway Girl Song was sung by a huge crowd in the streets accompany the band. Been a few years ago, sounds like him.

[@vandoo66]

First pic is of Robert K Brown. Ex 5th Gp SF Viet-Nam and founder of Soldier Of Fortune magazine. Good reading back in the 80s.

[@desertranger1095]

Yea I read Dancing with Devils a while back hes had an interesting life.

[@greyvr4336]

That old rag was the best! Yeah, you hide it under your books because owning it made you look like a poser, but the articles were fascinating. Like the one on Neall Ellis.

[@vandoo66]

@@greyvr4336 I bought them throughout my teenage yrs and enjoyed them tremendously. SOF lost it’s magic by the 90s.

[@greyvr4336]

@@vandoo66 Same, but I drifted away by then, so I only recall how epically good the reporting was on little wars the MSM never even tells you are happening. And the article on Neall Ellis created a level of hero worship unmatched to this day. I mean, holy smokes.

[@oliverreedslovechild]

Not sure about that. That's an SAS wings shoulder badge and whoever it is is carrying a FN SLR so if that's a pic from Vietnam it's probably an Australian SAS trooper.

[@WotannWassail]

my dad was a contractor after being a squaddie for years, he’s told me many stories

[@kanakattack4408]

thats pretty cool

[@Matthew69ing-chipmunks]

In my experience it was not for shit

[@stevej1031]

Great song. It's all about a buck. Trained ex military being paid to do whatever. Can't support family on the corporate minimum wage. I believe you hit the nail on the head. You are a great song writer.

[@davidwestbrook1856]

A lot of the visuals were of us South Africans in the bush war(conscripts) . I guess many of us are still out there. Proud soldiers all respect.

[@5.7moy]

Executive Outcomes right?

[@TvConfusionn]

rip Rhodesia

[@Wuestenkarsten]

@@TvConfusionn Rhodesians never die!!! One Day....One Day....we will be able to get Home again.

[@alastairatcheson1407]

Was thinking some of the clothes looked like Rhodesia troops.

[@randomalex2696]

S.O.F magazine was what inspired me to head to war. Some of those boys were kicking around in Jugoslavia in the nineties. Didn't see anyone getting rich on 30 DM a month, but it was a hell of an experience.

[@jasonjanusch4055]

"Bow down before the one you serve, you're going to get what you deserve..." ;) Mercenary rule... thank NIN.

[@shakesisdeadya-cunts6675]

This wasn't meant to last.

[@lowkey1969]

If the money is there, I do not care.

[@richardcostello360]

I thank Trent Reznor everyday

[@jameswilliamw.741]

God bless these brave men.. We are all Rhodesians now.

[@louiswain9139]

Rhodesians never die

[@theodoremartin6153]

Good Lord......your right.

[@sahaquiel4640]

If they don't die why can't I find Rhodesia on a map @@louiswain9139

[@Horsemanray]

Losers?

[@jameswilliamw.741]

@@HorsemanrayRhodesians won all of their battles but got sold out by political negotiators. And did so while vastly undermanned and against all odds. Ferocious fighters. May their spirits live.

[@ullekhambone2004]

Was a merc myself 10yrs.... the pay was not all that, but action hell yeah....man sure miss some good old boys that bought the farm down in central America, but some day I will see'em in Valhalla.

[@desertranger1095]

@@Commodore22345 well thats not strictly true.

[@desertranger1095]

Good to see another norse pagan.

[@desertranger1095]

@@Commodore22345 besides he could get someone to fight him in A holmgang privately when hes old to reach Valhalla.

[@brandanhiltz6064]

Was it worth it I'm not judging I'm curious and what all did you guys do in your time sorry for the questions if you don't want to tell

[@ullekhambone2004]

@@Commodore22345 Ah was wondering when that comment would come my brother, I know in my heart the place, it is there, so no worries. What one believes in his heart, is what matters. What others who are non believers...... well lets just say it's there opinion.

[@martinschuyler5570]

You aren’t a real Merc till you’ve served against your own country

[@williamslaughter8037]

Their good people they fight for the green back dollar and the peso down mexico way. Haven't ever seen Mexico yet but would like to one day.

[@williambell2188]

Won’t do that yet?

[@adammcculley8080]

I sometimes wish I never tried to be a good family man. I should have stayed what I was; alone, wild, and dangerous.

[@jackwhite1742]

Why? family man gets more respect, its the harder of the two jobs.

[@jeremymaendel5846]

I don’t think being a family man makes you less dangerous

[@jackwhite1742]

@@jeremymaendel5846 In fact, Im more dangerous now that I have a family to protect, more so than I ever was single. Adam Mcculley, what is making you think that?

[@christopherreynolds6695]

Ya...more than one of us fell to the "soft touch" didn't take long to find out though...

[@illicitaction3862]

I tried to settle down, met a nice girl with two kids of her own, two years on and white picket fences aren't me. I'm alright with that.

[@richardwonacott8774]

Be a man among men Rhodesia freedom fighters

[@thomassyverson7561]

Met a few of these fellows in my travels(deployments).Fascinating area of endeavour. Love this song.

[@cbradley1391]

Its one thing to sign a contract that makes you a countries disposable asset and get payed in thankyous for your service. Its another thing to sign a contract that pays you well for the danger tou put yourself in, and the skills you have.

[@johnmosby2631]

It becomes the same country.....and contract.

[@HJJohansen]

In combat, you act without passion and without hate, you respect defeated enemies, and you never abandon your dead, your wounded, or your arms.

[@yoghippie]

Legio Patria Nostra.

[@snipper1ie]

The dead are dead.

[@logana1999]

spoken like someone who's never seen combat

[@TheKhanhhoa]

@@logana1999 ain't that da truth

[@TheKhanhhoa]

I'm just real happy steve earle ain't got nuthin ta do with keeping this country FREE ! Like most of them entertainer types , they think they actually know something .

[@user-yn3qr6cl5e]

Thank you to anyone who served during Vietnam.

[@larss337]

Steve Earle never misses a beat.

[@torco1963]

always been a Steve Earl fan but never heard this one till now, great song with meaning thanks for finding and sharing

[@grantgillum8768]

Some men were chiseled into warriors by God.

[@alexeubanks467]

My grandfather fought in ww2 , Korea and Vietnam . When he got out in 67 as a senior NCO they (CIA) offered him work as a courier between places the US military wasn’t and Saigon. He declined and came home to his wife’ and 2 young sons . He passed at age 65 from A long battle with agent Orange . 11th air assault to 1st cavalry airmobile 1/82Arty 1/77Arty he was the artillery observer attached to infantry units out in the shit . Combat infantry badge , bronze star . Just a tough as nails American Who grew up poor as shit trying to make a better life for his family serving his country and his STATE just like his great grandfather who fought With the 14th SC in Maxcy Greggs brigade , AP hills division .

[@sparta2705]

We need to get back to state units.

[@justadad5040]

Many people join the military, Few people are warriors, Fewer still are born to it - Hail those of you who are warriors, and for those who joined the military, good start!

[@dannyarcher6163]

Rhodies will never die.

[@jamesharding3459]

We say Zimbabwe now, don’t we?

[@dannyarcher6163]

@@jamesharding3459 Do we!?

[@louiswain9139]

@@jamesharding3459 we say occupied Rhodesia

[@5.7moy]

Based

[@sahaquiel4640]

DUHH ME AM OF THE LOVEY OF THE APURTOOOHAAAAD STAAT ROFL!! Rhodesian genocide was based.

[@neallance7311]

song fits the bill. got out of the Army 1977 1/508 PIR 82nd ABN me,and a fellow para sitting at the only bar in Torreon NM was offered 50k to be mercs. somewhere in central, or south America we don't really remember where both declined. glad i did went on to get a geology degree from UNM.

[@wullieg7269]

big up!.......peace

[@schizoidboy]

Contrary to what people might think there is more than money involved. When someone takes part in something like a mercenary venture they may do it because they believe in the cause, you never see an anti-communist mercenary go over to a communist side because they pay better. More important they take up the business because they don't want to do nine-to-five jobs which is horrifying to them. When you consider someone who might be in a dead end job in one country could become a military leader affecting a country elsewhere you'd understand why. Bob Denard was selling vacuums before ending up in the Congo where he ended up commanding an entire column.

[@gregchabot7160]

Love the pic of Robert K Brown. He is Soldier of Fortune and a friend.

[@tieroneactual2228]

Absolutely! I’m glad I read your comment before I posted one, but yea, that’s RKB in the early days standing in front of the UH-1 with his trusty bolt gun. We miss the old SOF Conventions back in the day in Vegas, there was always plenty to see & do there. And before Vegas I believe there were some held in South Carolina maybe, but don’t remember for sure.

[@gregchabot7160]

@@tieroneactual2228 He's great friend, gave me a chance writing at SOF. Proud moment seeing my work appear there. Been reading it since I was a kid. That pic is from El Salvador.

[@tieroneactual2228]

@@gregchabot7160Ok that’s cool. I sure miss the printed copies that came in the mail. When they went to digital/electronic on the computer I lost track of it. The early 80’s editions were interesting to say the least. We were friends with Gary Paul Johnston when he used to pen for them occasionally as well as other rags he wrote for as well. It was definitely a different world back then in so many ways. Miss the old classifieds that were in there, used to be some strange stuff once in a while.

[@gregchabot7160]

@@tieroneactual2228 I have an almost complete collection of first ten years. My younger friends love the classified ads. I almost cry when I see prices of guns back then lol. Peter G Kokalis articles taught me a lot. I liked Mike Echanis articles, I would try his moves on other kids.😱

[@tieroneactual2228]

@@gregchabot7160 Yes I remember Mike Echanis (R.I.P.) He was great, at the annual Seal Team Reunion in 1977 I think it was, he laid on the ground with a sheet of plywood or something like that and one of the guys drove over top of him with a CJ5 Jeep to show he was tuff as nails. They sure don’t make them like that anymore, he was a great guy to have around!

[@kelbini]

Black Water Boys you are remembered

[@wrjuniper]

Once you’ve hunted men no other hunt will satisfy you.

[@adamwilliams1426]

@@akikakeliikuli8223 While this guy may have as far as I know, it's a Hemingway quote. He was talking about mercs down in Africa. Hemingway's general sentiment was that he'd rather be able to be satisfied with big game hunting and fishing than have his ability to enjoy those things stripped by hunting men. It's a really interesting article by him.

[@greyvr4336]

@@adamwilliams1426 Is that what that quote is about? I thought it was about cruising gay bars.

[@adamwilliams1426]

@@greyvr4336 HAHA! Hemingway wasn't talking about that but this lad may be using it a different way xD

[@Larry-gs8gb]

@@adamwilliams1426 "There is no hunting like the hunting of man,and those that have hunted armed men long enough and liked it never cared for anything else therafter " was published in 1936 On The Blue Water ,

[@adamwilliams1426]

@@Larry-gs8gb That's the one, thanks friend, such a good article.

[@yagmi6182]

countries usually mock mercenaries since they arent "real soldiers" or at least they are considered lesser by most because they fight for money rather than a flag or cause. but without them many campaigns would have been lost or at least far more difficult and cost more lives. and a lot of these men are ex soldiers with no place to go etc. hell its not even a newish concept. even in medieval times kings and random people hired mercenaries to boost their ranks and take on risky missions.

[@adambell9188]

Mercenaries are just soldiers who stopped drinking the patriotic kool-aid

[@aircommando505]

Quote from"Fury", Best job I ever had.

[@Loli4lyf]

some called them terrorists, mercenary, war criminals but some also called them hero

[@wirebrushproductions1001]

Although SOF magazine made a big deal, I think you've made a mistake by leading with a picture of Robert K. Brown. He was a publisher, not a merc. Well, he was a merc-wannabe publisher. I remember one issue where he and some other SOF staffers had gone out on a patrol in some place in Africa, and actually managed to get themselves shot at. The headlines were, "SOF Sees The Elephant!"

[@ibfubar]

Brown was in Vietnam and received 3 medals.

[@TheKhanhhoa]

drove a tanker out of kuwait to the green zone for kbr ( Halliburton )...it was a job .....not a cause...and the pay was great,,,,,,,.was in khanhhoa province area in a little shit hole called vietnam when I was 20 yrs old driving f/a transportation company for my country that didn't pay shit....gotta tell ya , least we had some heavy duty back up in the nam....that f'n desert run was some scary shit...was not worth the cash ! just one opinion.

[@testaccount4191]

yeah, that is because the government would refund lost cargo if it got destroyed so it was a one way bet which provided no incentive to provide adequate security. In fact when they are bidding for the contracts they had to cut security otherwise another company which did would get the contracts.

[@TheKhanhhoa]

@@testaccount4191 did not have any idea that had happened , but it does not come as a surprise except to say....i went through KBR in Huston / kuwait and everything was TOP of the line...except for the main part , which you just explained to me .

[@unkownoflife5959]

How old are you now?

[@tmarcus988]

Man my Grandfather ran with KBR overseas from 03-05. They called him Mississippi and he ran with Tommy Hamel, a driver that got captured. It's good to hear from folks he worked with.

[@raulmango4116]

A mis 60 años me gusta escuchar estos temas

[@holdmycoffee4470]

For a couple centuries Mercenaries were the #1 export from Ireland. From the"Wild Geese" in 1691 to Mad Mike Hoare in the 1960s.

[@DonMarquez-wj7ir]

!!!!

[@paulprecour3636]

Epitaph on an Army of Mercenaries BY A. E. HOUSMAN These, in the days when heaven was falling, The hour when earth's foundations fled, Followed their mercenary calling And took their wages and are dead. Their shoulders held the sky suspended; They stood, and the earth's foundations stay; What God abandoned, these defended, And saved the sum of things for pay.

[@josephwarra5043]

"God and the soldier, All men adore, In time of trouble, And no more. When wars are over, And all things righted, God is neglected The old soldier slighted." -- Anonymous

[@GeoffreyEwart]

My favorite piece of poetry ever. I even have it on my XBox profile, right after "Proud dad of a former Marine armorer". Give it another 15 years and that'll probably have to be "granddad" too. Thanks

[@triggercrank]

Rhodesians never die!

[@boburwell9921]

There's a very private memorial in NC that wraps around a small water with a head stone for all the men of Blackwater KIA. They die together 4 or 5 at a time as ieds do. To you fellas. They were always moving someone of great importance and never lost one

[@landuit8577]

Wait, weren't Blackwater the ones that shot up civilians for shits and giggles? I know that probably isn't something all of them did but even so there's no "honour" in being a soldier of fortune. And the murders we found out are just gonna be a fraction of all the deaths. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nisour_Square_massacre They were mercenaries, not soldiers, they should have had peoples graves and peoples burials, but we should not be commemorating the crimes some of these men committed. Those are remembered in court records. Nowhere else.

[@boburwell9921]

@@landuit8577 they risked and gave their lives for $500 a day. Do you think they'd do the same for their home and children's future? Now keep pushing because I know what will happen. But I know darn well who will be standing knee deep in bloody liberal sludge. Now good night Mary

[@boburwell9921]

@@landuit8577 think of all the shiny things can be taken off all those liberal corpses

[@Fallenscion]

@@boburwell9921 hey everyone, look at this joker who thinks "not killing civilians" is liberal propaganda.

[@boburwell9921]

@@Fallenscion tell your friends beware of the wolf

[@280StJohnsPl]

Used to think I served my country, not so sure about that anymore. Not really sure just who I served, no say in where you go or what you do and who you do it for. At least as a mercenary you get the say in what and where

[@Berserker3624]

Yourself, I think. There’s a reason why your going though all this and because of the pay, you support yourself in this profession and should be proud that your true to yourself a lot people give there pride away just to go home with minim wage and lie to themselves thinking it’ll change one day when in reality this’ll be there life until they retire and then spend there remaining days as a prisoner in there own body. What ever happens next you should hold your head high and be proud over everything you’ve done and whoever you are wherever you are I hope your happy and I’m good health

[@louiswain9139]

Me and the boys when the French civil war kicks off

[@albertandrews130]

Very interesting, looks like a Rem 700 hunting rifle set up as a sniper rifle in front of UH-1.

[@chamber.it30.06]

it is 30.06

[@calebhughes2355]

That was the origin of military sniper rifles in vietnam, the most accurate civilian rifles were selected and sent to Vietnam, they actually started with Winchester Model 70s in 30/06 that's what Carlos Hathcock used.

[@sanction7627]

that is a classic pic of Robert K. Brown, the publisher of Soldier Of Fortune magazine.....

[@lazaruslong6382]

That was the standard issue army "sniper rifle" right up to the early 70's. People in special operations units started receiving custom-built sniper rifles some time in the late 60's. I don't know when the regular army got them because the regular army typically has a "wear red and march in a straight line" mindset,and hated the whole idea of snipers.

[@miketaylor5212]

@@lazaruslong6382 and every war up until vietnam our military had to relearn sniping skills, they finally after vietnam decided to keep a sniper program going.

[@martinoneal316]

The lead picture of RKB ..is of him in Afghanistan going out to do what he could do to help then.. the rifle is a .338 Win Mag...if am not mistaken...he was much more than a wannabe.. always helped what he believed in....

[@michaelkeha]

Some find home in the smoke and fire of war

[@pktdbgnzwl]

fight for no country but we'll die for good pay...

[@jimmietanner52]

Been Their Done That , Dynalectron , 76 - 2010 !

[@rolandmartin1483]

Never,never what you call Mercenary fight against his conviction!

[@0baddawa0]

Fun Fact- one of the mercs pictured, Bob Mackenzie (sp?) served with US Special Forces before being medically retired and becoming a mercenary. He was eaten by RUF troops in Sierra Leone around 2002.

[@JohnDoeUDI]

Not sure if I would characterise getting eaten as a fun fact, but wildly interesting anyway!

[@georgeedward602]

He was a fool for fighting in Africa without FFL support. Say what you like about France but can not say they do not have the best mercs serving as a unit.

[@0baddawa0]

@@georgeedward602 a well paid fool who helped turn the tide of a conflict without state support.

[@georgeedward602]

@@0baddawa0 I respect the man but it is foolish to not have more support than he had. You end up dead no matter how good.

[@0baddawa0]

@@georgeedward602 and FFL end up dead, too, except they get to pretend it's for a state and not a colonial power. And they get paid less, have more oversight, and have a shittier day to day life. Wasting your life to make old men rich is foolish no matter the uniform; at least Mercs like EO have more liberties and freedom

[@SundownerMGRR]

He was a true pioneer who else would have thought to use jars of piss as a weapon

[@John_winston]

for real ?

[@SundownerMGRR]

@@John_winston tf2 sniper

[@John_winston]

@@SundownerMGRR XD

[@benueltschi1128]

Don't show Rhodesia pics. We fought for our country

[@themanwithallthewrongopini3551]

I know ordinary people sometimes hired security, but I think there were a few private mercenary and security forces that fought alongside Rhodesian security and Rhodesian infantry.

[@baddog2567]

"Our country" lmfao

[@thonbrocket2512]

Nope. I was there.

[@ollikoskiniemi6221]

@UCVCSfn7FI-swbCZFJu6S62w shut up you "lmfao" weasel

[@jamesbhollingsworth5452]

A few ‘nam vets from America found their fortunes out in the bush.

[@stevebaird3470]

If you kill for money you're a mercenary. If you kill for pleasure you're a sadist. If you kill for both you're a Green Beret. (Sign at a Special Forces Camp, Me Phuc Tay, Vietnam.)

[@haggismacphreedom8270]

#MakeZimbabweRhodesiaAgain

[@williamslaughter8037]

Most of these youngins don't really have a clue what good music is nowadays... I'm only 27 but am finally learning to work and be an adult so I will say I ain't old but I can definitely know good music when I listen to it.

[@gregorycrook7212]

hell of a song

[@DaxOrlom]

Sure glad I was a foreign volunteer and not a mercenary or I'd be in trouble. 😅

[@jacobdensmore5058]

It’s all in the fine print

[@beeragainsthumanity1420]

Remember, if you plan to stay Those who give can take away Don't bite the hand that feeds you

[@roopeseppanen9029]

Mercenary Song - Ukraine war Version Me and Vasili we both come from Kherson met Oleg down in Mariupol. We're bound for Kharkiv to join Azov we hear that they're payin' in gold. I guess man's got to do what he's best at ain't found nothing better so far. Been called merceneries and men with no country just soldiers in search of a war. And we're bound for the border, we're soldiers of fortune. We fight for no country but we die for good pay. Under the flag of the turquoise Rouble or the Hryvnia down Ukraine way. When this war is over i might go back to Kherson, and settle down quiet somewhere. I'll most likely pack up and head south for Karabakh, i've heard there's some trouble down there. And we're bound for the border, we're soldiers of fortune. We fight for no country but we die for good pay. Under the flag of the turquoise Rouble or the Hryvnia down Ukraine way. And we're bound for the border, we're soldiers of fortune. We fight for no country but we die for good pay. Under the flag of the turquoise Rouble or the Hryvnia down Ukraine way.

[@roopeseppanen9029]

@Scythian Lancer Yeah i know Azov is an Ukrainian nationalist militia but it fits the song so dont complain.

[@roopeseppanen9029]

@Scythian Lancer Yeah... dude i doubt you were in the war. Seriously, Scythian Lancer? If your youtube pfp is a pic of you, you look like a 16 year old femboy. Lying aint nice.

[@fionnghallselma7193]

@Scythian Lancer Chad Ukro Neo-nazi's buckbreaked you pal?

[@samnathan1677]

Anyone else find this song kinda sad

[@snakeking-zo6mu]

It's got that calm peacefull sadness like the old cowboy songs.

[@jjstile]

1:51 the chorus is perfect

[@patriotspatriot7096]

I love y'all!

[@kaiservon2936]

We’re bound for Havanna, to join freedom fighters, we hear them shout “LIBERTAD!”

[@bierwolf8360]

that's gay

[@jakereacher1382]

@@bierwolf8360 you’re gay

[@bierwolf8360]

@@jakereacher1382 nope. You're supporting a fake CIA uprising. Picture book gay. And it literally is in parts about gay stuff.

[@jakereacher1382]

@@bierwolf8360 I bet you’re the type that supports communism

[@5.7moy]

@@bierwolf8360 cringe commie

[@j.b.browning6205]

I'd trade both my legs for a past worth dwelling on or a death worth dying.

[@5.7moy]

I’m 13 and I’m seriously thinking of being a PMC or Mercenary. All those videos about Executive Outcomes convinced me.

[@kilohotel1670]

I'd concentrate on turning 18 first. my recommendation, Joinf the Military in a Combat Arms MOS, or somewhere in Cyber Sec.

[@emocowboy4684]

Not the smartest path to take

[@JL-xn3zy]

You need to get some skills first. Focus on doing good. Money comes and goes, but doing something worthwhile and meaningful is priceless. God Speed Son.

[@kilohotel1670]

@Gray El entrenador Pokémon Your idea of this concept is severely misconstrued. . . Contracting isn't like in the Movies. most Contractors end up spending a year at an FOB checking IDs at the gate and checking vehicles. Don't get Me wrong. there ARE jobs like that. but the majority of them are slow, no action, and boring. I'm speaking from experience of someone that went from Executive Protection (PSD/PSS) to Overseas Contracting in the sandbox. So I'm more than qualified for those "highspeed" gigs. but they're extremely rare nowdays. and I've done work with the "New age Blackwater" if You even wanna call it that. Lol

[@ratdoesgaming]

Join the military or some kind of police force, most companies won't give basic like they do and most pmcs require you to have one or the other for there training, don't listen to the people that say you shouldn't do it if you want to do it then do it, I'm 18 and after I get out of the military I'm going to go over to a pmc and join up. Good luck

[@zacharycottner8651]

Good song

[@jasonbranam1253]

Since they disperced blackwater there's new group coming up they are called redwater real good guys if anyone is interested they are out of Texas

[@belegthoron8603]

This song was realeased during the'90s. Yet in Chile there was no trouble during those years. (I know that probably they put Chile to make it sound good or to make a point that mercenaries go to fight very far away from home). But ironically, right now we need people like this in the south of Chile.

[@nesne2167]

It may have been released in the 1990s but Steve Earle has been sing it since the 1970's. Here is an amazing acoustic version when he was young. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXmoYpeDac2Medk

[@Berserker3624]

What’s up in Chile and what’s the pay your offering?(im actually just curious)

[@gamecarnival2024]

Pancho Villa also wasn't around during the 90s

[@bobyouel7674]

thanks - and so true - I am a vet

[@richardjames1812]

The song lyrics reference the early 20th century but a lot of the photos are Africa in the 1960's and 70's.

[@DJTheMetalheadMercenary]

This hits right.

[@dunruden9720]

Me, I missed Viet Nam, thank Ford, but a mate of mine went and then went on to Angola. I remember him having a conversation with the Portuguese guy who cleaned our school. "Hey, I was in Angola." "Really, so was I." " What were you doing there?" Oops!!

[@hectortellez7776]

From south Texas ❤️👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@TM-rh8qw]

under the flag of the green back dollar

[@ROCKYMARNE47]

Volens et Potens Hoooaaahh Rock of the Marne 🇺🇸 you never get rid of the taste 😈🇺🇸🇺🇦🇪🇺🇮🇱

[@michaelharris5267]

You know, if you have not served for any length of time and have not fought. You will never understand what this song really means. In the end, we will all fight for flag of the greenback dollar.

[@alexmag342]

Traitorous parasites who deserve only execution

[@michaelharris5267]

@@alexmag342 I think you missed the point I was attempting to make. However, we use mercenaries, if a person is willing to provide the service, who cares what their ideology is?

[@jamesmcamis8556]

In the end, it's a job. And one it takes real stones to do; fun fact, the reason folks like Blackwater or Triple-Canopy were so-particular about being 'Private Contractors', is because Civilian Contractors are protected under the Geneva Conventions but Mercenaries are explicitly -not-. Captured mercs, as Illegal Combatants, can be legally shot out-of-hand, as I recall.

[@65stang98]

@@alexmag342 eh nah. they can fight for whoever they want as long as its not against us. that would make them traitors and enemies. Fighting in a war your country isnt involved in doesnt make you a traitor but a mercenary. People have done it for money since the carthaginians and romans and even before them. You need to tone down the extreme patriotism a bit i think instead of calling for the execution of your ambitious soldiers they did fight for your rights at one point you know. maybe they want to go fight for someone elses for once.

[@darcymcnabb9259]

No some of us fight to prove to ourselves ..to hold my head high when I look at myself

[@kraaidievoel]

Most of these pictures is of Saffas

[@louischapman3697]

Because we're still the best when it comes to irregular warfare. Pre '94 of course

[@gerardmichaelburnsjr.]

Roland the headless Thompson gunner has entered the chat.

[@smilly456]

personally I think it should be "we'll die for no country, but we'll fight for good pay"

[@Angrycapitalist]

Looking at a flights to Poland and trains in Ukraine..

[@Patrick-md3le]

Well you'd be working for free so you wouldn't be a mercenary, best of luck and I hope you're financially secure before going to risk your life for nary a penny.

[@Angrycapitalist]

@@Patrick-md3le It's a resume builder 🤷 In all seriousness, trying to figure out the mortgage is pretty difficult!

[@blackrooster455]

@@Patrick-md3le me too Warsaw to kyiv is 486 miles where you from I from UK thinking of going this week or next?

[@Patrick-md3le]

@@Angrycapitalist They just got back to me and it turns out they're now paying so go for it if you want it bud, give em hell. @Black Rooster I'm going to go when the new kit I bought arrives, I'm sure their kit is just fine but I want to go in prepared.

[@wnessnol]

Best songwriter of my lifetime. Too bad his politics are now the politics of the billionaires and, last I heard, he's stuck to them instead of resisting the urge to think we blue collar men are winning. We aren't. If the guys who own everything are pushing something, it's always bad for us Copperhead Road types

[@alexexley884]

He's a socialist. Socialism inherently fights for the working class.

[@MrKrumpetz]

@@alexexley884 Except all the times it gives power to a handful of men that become the new social elites, while the working class gets screwed over yet again.

[@alexexley884]

@@MrKrumpetz Hahahaha we gonna ignore Zapatista? Rojava? Or do you only know about the USSR as if they were ever socialist? Or Venezuela/Cuba which had many planted officials specifically to topple governments as to not threaten American capitalist interests

[@pepe_152]

@@alexexley884 you shat yerself there mate with the last sentence

[@alexexley884]

@@pepe_152 I really didn't 😂

[@felixdzerjinsky5244]

The Wild Geese....."any cause but our own".

[@simonejassmann7743]

God bless good mercenaries who help people not all work for evil

[@radamson1]

Sometimes,I feel we were all Mercs. In the long run, we all fought for someone's bottom line. It was never about country for them.

[@user-mg4yw9yc7l]

Roy you've hit a nerve pretty hard with that. 从 m

[@davidr1037]

Long live free Rhodesia

[@pewprofessional3181]

Good times! 😉

[@GhostRider-wx3zs]

Tacey Peck. The most beautiful woman in Nashville Tennessee.

[@poacher7805]

Not all men deserve to breath air when to many good men have died young. Sometimes you have to take out the trash!

[@urhunn7778]

I just wish the good oldschool mercenary life was still open for every male looking for adventure, instead of the strictly ex-military and ex-special forces guys that PMCs only employ today...

[@johnmosby2631]

Experienced only need apply..... that experience costs dearly... as does inexperience.

[@urhunn7778]

@@johnmosby2631 The learning curve is pretty steep during wartime, isn't it?

[@johnmosby2631]

@@urhunn7778 Yea, problem is, that almost every country initially fights the last war, at the beginning of the new one.....some even fail to learn the lessons from the last one...lol

[@theodorebear6714]

*For good pay!* 🍻

[@jerrynewman1380]

Got to have fightin men..cause the cowards run away..

[@czjim1]

Lets see China in action...just numbers

[@bigredmarchingon3200]

really god guitar audio on this song. Alot of songs have horrible instrumental audio.

[@shrapmagnet]

US Army 1987-2010. Afg on a daily rate- 2012-2017!

[@DG-uw6wx]

Rhodesia 1880-1980

[@d3nza482]

Fürstenberg Brewery Bierkultur seit 1283

[@johnwalsh4948]

Some of these pictures are from Rhodesia...The country that the USA and England SOLD OUT...I saw it happen.