10 January, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
10 Jan 1972: 65430373 2/Lieutenant Johannes Daniel Burger from 6 Squadron was killed when his AT-6 Harvard, Serial No. 7034 crashed near George during a cross-country low level tactical navigation flight. He was 22.
10 Jan 1976: 73437568BA Rifleman Andries Jacobus Rautenbach from 8 SAI was killed after being struck by a bullet resulting from an accidental discharge of a fellow soldier’s rifle while he was stationed at Rundu. He was 18.
10 Jan 1982: 78561545BG Rifleman Abel Albertus van Wyk from 1 Parachute Battalion Died of Wounds after being struck in the head by a bullet resulting from an accidental discharge of a FN-MAG light machine-gun during a live-fire training exercise outside Oshivelo. Fellow members saw him stagger and slowly collapse to the ground. He was immediately airlifted to the Base Surgical Hospital at Air Force Base Ondangwa but was declared dead on arrival. He was described by his mates as an extremely likeable character who had showed incredible determination and vasbyt throughout his training. He was 19.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.