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Robert K. Brown, Publisher of Soldier of Fortune Magazine, Has Died
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- Robert K. Brown, a Vietnam War Special Forces officer and founder of Soldier of Fortune magazine, died on August 28 at the age of 93; his death was announced on what would have been his 94th birthday.
- Brown, an Army Green Beret who conducted clandestine operations in Indochina and retired as a lieutenant colonel, launched Soldier of Fortune in 1975 as a pro-military, anti-Communist publication aimed at professional adventurers.
- The magazine gained popularity in the 1980s, reaching a peak circulation of 150,000, featuring first-person combat stories, survivalist tips, and advertisements for military gear and mercenaries.
- Soldier of Fortune became known for its gonzo military journalism style, offering unfiltered accounts of mercenary exploits and firefights, reminiscent of Hunter S. Thompson’s counterculture writing.
