1. Charles Michael Sweeny was an American soldier of fortune, United States Army lieutenant colonel, French Foreign Legion officer, Polish army brigadier general, Royal Air Force group captain, and journalist who fought in numerous conflicts in the 20th century.
Charles Sweeny recruited fellow Americans to fight in World War II prior to the United States entering the war.
Charles Sweeny was born in San Francisco to Charles and Emeline Sweeny.
Charles Sweeny enrolled in the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1900, but was expelled not once but twice, in 1901 and, after being reinstated, in 1903.
Charles Sweeny fought in several conflicts in Central and South America, including for Francisco I Madero in Mexico and against Jose Santos Zelaya in Nicaragua and Cipriano Castro in Venezuela, according to his friend Ernest Hemingway.
Charles Sweeny was commissioned a major and was later promoted to lieutenant colonel.
Charles Sweeny himself participated in the 1920 Battle of Warsaw.
In 1925, Charles Sweeny fought in Morocco for the French in the Rif War and recruited World War I veterans for the Escadrille Cherifienne, the 19th Squadron of the Moroccan Aviation Regiment, which was responsible for the bombardment of Chefchaouen.
Charles Sweeny became the leader of the Sultan of Morocco's air force.
Charles Sweeny observed and evaluated the effectiveness of French aircraft in the Spanish Civil War, and was reunited with Hemingway.
Charles Sweeny eventually retired and lived in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Charles Sweeny died there on February 27,1963, and was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery.