On 22 July, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
22 Jul 1972: Private Jacobus Andries Petrus Retief Truter from the School of Technical Training died from causes unknown. He was 20.
22 Jul 1977: 73262826BC Corporal Carl van Wyk Hellmuth from 8 SAI was found dead at the Unit with an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head using an R1 Rifle. He was 20.
22 Jul 1984: 79331542BG Rifleman Gerhard Ernst De Lange from 1 Parachute Battalion was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents while on patrol north of Ondangwa. The patrol had set up a Temporary Base that was attacked in the early hours of the morning. In the ensuing fire-fight, he was killed after suffering multiple shrapnel wounds to the lungs and back from an enemy hand grenade that exploded very close to his position. He was 20.
22 Jul 1986: 80253271BG Corporal Mark Twain Whiteley from 701 Battalion SWATF was accidentally shot dead by own forces after he had left their TB during the night to relieve himself and was mistaken for a SWAPO/PLAN insurgent on his return. He was 24.
22 Jul 1987: 84536903BT Sergeant Adriaan Jonker from 2 SWA SPES (SWATF) was accidentally killed in Windhoek when his parachute failed during a practice jump at the J. G. Strydom Airport. He was 20.
22 Jul 1987: 82321886BG Rifleman Lyall Gregory Sole from 2 SAI was killed in a military motor vehicle accident, between Walvis Bay and Rooikop in gale force wind conditions (75km/h) and poor visibility when he lost control of his Landrover, struck a passing truck that caused his vehicle to overturn. He was 20.
22 Jul 1991: 80830607PB Rifleman Eduardo Muchito from 5 Special Forces Regiment died in 1 Military Hospital as a result of heart failure. He was 36.
22 Jul 1998: 94066073 Lance Corporal W M Lelaka from 1 SAI died of disease in 3 Military Hospital. He was 33.
22 Jul 1998: 94681681 Major M L Matebe from the South African Army was killed in a private motor vehicle accident in Cape Town. He was 36.
22 Jul 1998: 96847090 Sergeant F.S. Nkosi from Air Force Base Waterkloof died of pneumonia in 1 Military Hospital. He was 28.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten