Francis Koroma

Rebels & Sobels Francis Koroma

The NIGERIAN CAPTAIN signaled for the drivers to get ready, and he turned and signaled for me to sit with him at the front of the lead truck. There was no time for rehearsals, the enemy was already within and there was no Orders process. I sat there not knowing what was going to become of us once we start engaging the enemy. In almost every military operation, there is a need for proper planning, but we had failed one of the five fundamentals factors of SUN TZU, the "Methods,": 'Failing to plan is planning to fail.' There is a popular quote in the United States Military: "Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance," I wish we had time for prior planning. The capital of Freetown was on fire and smoke could be seen below as we descended the hills of CONGO CROSS and it was just a matter of time before we are welcomed by the enemy. The element of surprise was not possible, and the enemy had the upper hand, but we had the will to retake FREETOWN and make it Free again.