05 February, let us pause to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
05 Feb 1965: P/21763 Captain Pieter de Wet Joubert from Air Force Headquarters died in 1 Military Hospital after suffering a coronary thrombosis and cerebral embolism. He was 54.
05 Feb 1970: 01479856PE Captain Johannes Jacobus Lombard from 4 SAI was intentionally shot dead by a disgruntled soldier while he was in the mess at Katima Mulilo. He was 29. He was the second SADF soldier to Die on Service during the Bush War.
05 Feb 1976: 72500846BT Sapper Jonathan Aschman from 21 Field Engineer Squadron was Killed in Action in a contact with enemy forces in Central Angola during Operation Savannah. He was 19. He was the first SADF soldier of the Jewish Faith to die during the Bush War.
05 Feb 1976: 66355579BT Trooper Willem Johannes Cronje from Regiment Oranje Rivier was Killed in Action in Central Angola during Operation Savannah after suffering multiple shrapnel wounds from a Soviet RPG-7 Anti-Tank Rocket. He was 26.
05 Feb 1980: Two members from 6 SAI were Killed in Action when their Temporary Base at Nkongo was attacked by SWAPO/PLAN insurgents at about midday. The casualties were:
76540681BG Rifleman Christo Swanepoel was standing up when the attack was initiated and was hit in the chest by an enemy bullet that killed him instantly. He was 19. (NOTE: His grave headstone incorrectly states date of death as 06 February 1980).
76457779BG Rifleman Bruce Edward Schultz Died of Wounds about 20 minutes after being critically wounded in the stomach by shrapnel from an RPG-7 Anti-Tank Rocket that exploded when it hit a tree near his position. He was 20.
05 Feb 1981: 76279082BG Rifleman Bernard Jacobus Leach from 1 SAI was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents just North of Okalongo when he triggered a Soviet POMZ-2M Anti-Personnel Picket Mine. He was 21.
05 Feb 1982: Two members from 4 SAI were killed at their Base at Ohiki, situated 18 km North of Omauni when they attempted to make a skyrocket from a tent pole. They filled the tent pole with PE4 High Explosive together with 60mm mortar bomb charge bags to act as the propellant. As soon as the propellant was ignited, the tent pole exploded, killing them instantly. They were:
77317782BG Rifleman Evert Phillipus Du Toit. He was 20.
79262077BG Rifleman Robert Glenn Dunn. He was 19.
05 Feb 1985: Rifleman Paul Ismael from 101 Battalion SWATF was Killed in Action during a contact with enemy forces just north of the Cut-line. He was 24.
05 Feb 1987: 80443419BG Rifleman Peter Benz Reynolds from 5 Reconnaissance Regiment was accidentally killed when his Kwêvoel vehicle overturned as he tried to avoid cattle in the road between Ondangwa and Tsumeb. He was 22.
05 Feb 1991: 81308348PS Lieutenant Johannes Francois Neuhoff from 85 Combat Flying School was killed when his Atlas MB326M Impala Mk 1, Serial No 604 crashed near Pietersburg. He was 25.
05 Feb 1991: 06416457HB Pioneer Chief Inspector Aasvöel Kumalo attached to Witwatersrand Command Headquarters became ill on 03 February while on duty and was admitted to the Baragwanath Hospital. On 05 February 1991 he suffered a fatal heart attack. He was 67.
05 Feb 1992: 742871789BT Rifleman Daniel Stephanus Hendrik Du Toit from the Botha Regiment was accidentally killed while on Patrol on the Table Mountain in Natal when he slipped at a waterfall and fell 30m to his death. He was 33.
05 Feb 1992: 91072405CK Private Henry Jacobus Snyman from the Ordnance Services Corps stationed at Group 13 Headquarters was murdered after being stabbed in the chest by an unknown civilian during an argument in Paarl while on official vacation leave. He was 26.
05 Feb 2001: 96672308PV Rifleman Sibusiso Makhathini from 5 SAI was killed in a military motor vehicle accident when the Samil 20 in which he was travelling as a passenger overturned at Benedicta. He was 26.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.