Eugene H. Hasenfus - Nicaragua

 

https://www.pbs.org/video/wpt-documentaries-eugene-hasenfus-story/

Eugene H. Hasenfus (born January 22, 1941) is a former United States Marine who helped fly weapons shipments on behalf of the U.S. government to the right wing rebel Contras in Nicaragua. The sole survivor after his plane was shot down by the Nicaraguan government in 1986, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison for terrorism and other charges, but pardoned and released the same year. The statements of admission he made to the Sandinista government resulted in a controversy in the U.S. government, after the Reagan administration denied any connection to him.

I remember back in 1986 when I was serving as a military contractor, hearing about Hasenfus. I didnt know the guyand neither do i remember his name or seeing him around the base in El Salvador, but all these years later I find it interesting that we were basically serving in the same "Unit" and doing the same job. I guess that can be said of most if not all of the contracts I have done since late 1979.

If you read about Eugene and look at the pictures, it is cool to note that he is dressed in a "Grey man Uniform" i.e., civilian clothing and not the mufti that is common with contractors now a days. It also interesting that when captured he was sleeping in a hammock he made from his parachute, obviously a skill he learned at  JOTC in Panama or JEST in the Philippines. Either way his application of acquired skills are what saved his life - Grey man attire, survival skills and parachuting.

Tomahawk, Out!