23 June, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
23 Jun 1949: 44930 Staff Sergeant Isidor Friedmann, Butcher from the “Q” Service Corps and serving at the Pretoria Dispersal Depot, died in 1 Military Hospital after suffering a heart attack. He was 60.
23 Jun 1953: P/38924 Captain Johan Esterhuizen Pienaar from the Administrative Services Corps and attached to 81 Technical Stores Depot, died in 1 Military Hospital after suffering a post-operative cardiac arrest. He had undergone surgery to remove a cancerous growth in his jaw. He was 54.
23 Jun 1970: Two members from 42 Squadron were killed when their Cessna 185A, Serial No. 725 crashed at Vaal River near Potchefstroom after flying into High Tension Wires while carrying out a low level reconnaissance training mission. The casualties were:
65362832R 2/Lieutenant Johan van Sittert. He was 21
64247240E Candidate Officer Petrus Johannes van Deventer. He was 22
23 Jun 1974: 68343599PE Lieutenant Freddie Johannes Zeelie LWD (P) from 1 Reconnaissance Commando was Killed in Action at about 17h35 while engaged on an anti-insurgent follow-up operation in Southern Angola. While combing thick bush on the left flank of a suspected insurgent position together with Lance Corporal Hillebrand, the insurgents suddenly opened fire with two machine-guns. Lance Corporal Hillebrand was pinned down by heavy machine gun fire but Lieutenant Zeelie, without thought for his personal safety and in spite of the extreme danger to which he was exposed, immediately stormed the enemy position over a distance of approximately 50m, forcing one machine-gun crew to withdraw and successfully neutralising the other, regrettably losing his life in the process. As a result of this selfless act of gallantry in the face of great personal danger, the left flank of the patrol was able to re-deploy. For his courage, determination and self-sacrifice, Lt Zeelie was posthumously awarded the Louw Wepener Decoration. Lieutenant Zeelie was the first South African soldier to be Killed in Action during the Border War and the ninth soldier to die in the Operational Area. He was also the only member of Special Forces to ever receive the Louw Wepener Decoration and was buried with Full Military Honours in Alberton. He was 22.
23 Jun 1980: 73215824PE Sergeant Jacobus Daniel Cilliers from 17 Squadron was Killed in action when his Alouette III Helicopter Gunship, Serial No. 24 was shot down by an RPG-7 anti-tank rocket during the later stages of Ops Sceptic. The pilot, Captain Tinus van Rensburg was thrown clear when the aircraft hit the ground but Cilliers was killed. The Pilot, although injured, successfully evaded capture until rescued by a Special Forces Recovery Team and fown by Helicopter back to South African lines. Cilliers body was recovered by the Angolan Authorities and pictures of his body soon appeared on FAPLA and SWAPO propaganda pamphlets. His remains were eventually repatriated back to South Africa in 1982. He was 23.
23 Jun 1984: 80564958BG Corporal Johannes Christiaan Theunissen from 7 SAI was Killed in Action after being struck by a Soviet RPG-7 Anti-Tank Rocket when their position at Okankolo was attacked by a numerically superior force of SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. He was 21.
23 Jun 1987: 85278729BG Trooper Daniel Johannes Cronje from 2 Special Service Battalion was Absent Without Leave (AWOL) from his unit when he was critically wounded as a result of an accidentally self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head while using his father's .22 revolver to play "Russian Roulette" at his girlfriend's house. He was rushed to 1 Military Hospital but was certified dead on arrival. He was 18.
23 Jun 1998: 94854502 Sergeant M E Mangali from the Intelligence School died of disease in the Kimberley Sickbay. He was 42.
23 Jun 1998: 77158350PE Warrant Officer Class II M B Morule from the School of Artillery died of disease at Potchefstroom. He was 48.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.