Fred Marafano

Fred Marafono (13 December 1940 – 27 March 2013) was a Special Air Service (SAS) operative in his early career and later a mercenary who fought in Sierra Leone Civil War as a member of the Executive Outcomes, a private military company. He was one of the first Fijians of Rotuman descent to join the SAS.[1][2]

Early life

Kauata "Fred" Marafano was born 13 December 1940 on the tiny Pacific island of Rotuma, 350 miles north of Fiji. He grew up in a family of five children. His father was a farmer and also fought for the British during the Second World War. In 1957 he left Rotuma to study at an agricultural college in Navuso, Fiji.[3]

Military career

At the age of 21 he dropped out of college to join the British Army. He served in the King's Shropshire Light Infantry, where he became a corporal. After two years of service he applied to join the British SAS. He was appointed MBE in the New Year’s Honours of 1983.

After 21 years in SAS he was recruited by the SAS founder David Stirling for his private security company. In the 90s, when Fred Marafano was already a private security contractor in Sierra Leone, he was recruited by Simon Mann for his private military company known as Executive Outcomes, then participating in Sierra Leone's war largely concentrated around the so-called "Blood diamond ". By 1997 Executive Outcomes had left Sierra Leone in a conflict which remained in progress. Marafano, who had previously formed a close friendship with a local chief, Sam Hinga Norman, who was to lead the Civil Defence Forces, largely made up of Kamajor militia, against the Revolutionary United Front, stayed in the country in order to continue fighting. Marafono left Sierra Leone in December 2006.[4][5]

Personal life

Fred Marafono was twice married, and had three sons from his first marriage and a daughter from his second. Both marriages were dissolved. Fred Marafano died aged 72 March 27, 2013.

References

[6] [7]

  1. Knight, Adam (4 April 2013). "Tributes paid to one of the first Fijians to join the SAS". Hereford Times.com. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  2. "SAS man Fred Marafono remembered at Hereford Cathedral". BBC.com. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  3. "Fred Marafono". Daily Telegraph. 2013-03-29. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  4. "Fred Marafono: South Pacific warrior whose heart belongs in Sierra Leone". The Independent. 23 October 2011.
  5. Ross, Hamish (2 April 2013). "Fred Marafono: Soldier who served in the SAS and fought the rebels in Sierra Leone". The Independent.
  6. Verner Al J. War Dog CASEMATE. ISBN 978-1-932033-90-8
  7. "Fred Marafono". Telegraph.co.uk. 29 March 2013.
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