05 September, let us pause for a minute to remember these young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
05 Sep 1965: 5559950 Air Mechanic Henry Cecil Oosthuizen from the Air Force Gymnasium was killed in a private motor vehicle accident in Krugersdorp when his vehicle left the road and collided with a tree. He was 19.
05 Sep 1978: 74508995BG Rifleman Michael Horn Du Plessis from 2 SAI was grievously burned and suffered smoke inhalation while assisting to extinguish a veld fire in Windhoek. He succumbed to his injuries later in the day. He was 19.
05 Sep 1980: 76927961SP Lance Corporal Ernesto Sophia from 32 Battalion was accidentally killed by friendly fire in Southern Angola during Operation Vastrap. He was 31.
05 Sep 1982: 80554413BG Private Robert Peter van Spronsen from 5 Maintenance Unit was Grievously burned at Ondangwa on 30 August 1982 when a cigarette was inadvertently lit while standing near petrol drums and the petrol fumes ignited, causing an explosion. He succumbed to his injuries in 1 Military Hospital on 05 September 1982. He was 19.
05 Sep 1983: 74468398PE Sergeant Ernestus Jacobus van Staden from 8 SAI was critically injured in a private motor vehicle accident near Bloemfontein. He succumbed to his injuries in the Universitas Hospital in Bloemfontein shortly after admission. He was 24.
05 Sep 1986: 83448920BG Sapper Gary Edward Schentke from 1 Construction Regiment was accidentally killed when a road grader drove over him during construction work at the new 102 Battalion Base at Homba in the Kaokoveld. He was 19.
Their names and sacrifice have not been forgotten.