David Payne served in the British Army through years that tested skill, nerve, and belief. His work spanned open patrols and unseen operations, each requiring sharp eyes and steady resolve. From the streets of Belfast to the unforgiving borderlands of South Armagh, he led men where missteps could be final. Leadership for him was not just about orders, it was about standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the same danger. In Souls Run Wild, he writes with the plain honesty of someone who has been there, stripping away glamour to leave only what was true. His words honour those he served with and the unseen moments that shaped his path through conflict.