Marc Goosens | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Died | (1968-11-12)12 November 1968 |
| Allegiance | Belgium Republic of the CongoKingdom of Yemen Republic of Biafra |
| Battles / wars | Congo CrisisNigerian Civil War |
Marc Goosens (died 12 November 1968) was aBelgian mercenary who fought in theYemeni Civil War and served in the army ofBiafra during theNigerian Civil War. He was killed by Nigerian forces inOnitsha duringOperation Hiroshima.
Goosens served as an officer in theBelgian Army and was a military advisor to the Congolese government during theCongo Crisis.[1] During the civil war in Yemen, he and other Congo veterans trained royalist rebels.[2] He participated in theNigerian Civil War under the command of fellow mercenaryRolf Steiner, and he was one of the many foreign mercenaries who committed themselves toBiafra, a secessionist country that declared independence from Nigeria.[3] During the unsuccessful attempt led by Welsh mercenaryTaffy Williams toretake Onitsha from Nigerian forces, Goosens died after being shot in the liver.[4] Under the titleBiafra: Final Mission, Paris Match, a dramatic photo series published by Gilles Caron on November 30, 1968 showed Biafran soldiers carrying the body of Goosens.[5] Goosens is one of the five fallen mercenaries to whomFrederick Forsyth dedicates hisnovelThe Dogs of War.[6] Goosens is said to be the model for the character of the mercenary 'Tiny' Marc Vlaminck in Forsyth's novel.[7]
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