09 May, let us pause to remember these young men and woman from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
09 May 1965: P/6635 Warrant Officer Class II Willem Adriaan Steyn from 1 Air Depot died in Pretoria as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was 44.
09 May 1975: 64203243E Sergeant (Flight Engineer) Jacobus Johannes Crause from 16 Squadron was killed when his Alouette III Helicopter, Serial No 62, ditched into the sea off Port Elizabeth after experiencing engine failure. He was 28.
09 May 1983: 74468398PE Sergeant Ernestus Jacobus van Staden from the Technical Service Corps 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 25.
09 May 1986: 82489188BG Sapper Jacobus Petrus van den Berg from 25 Field Engineer Squadron was accidentally killed at Oshakati after being struck by a bullet resulting from the accidental discharge of a fellow soldier’s rifle. He was 19.
09 May 1988: 84611912BG Rifleman José Manual Teles from the South African Infantry Corps died of disease in Hospital. He was 25. (NOTE: Surname on Grave Headstone incorrectly given as Seles
09 May 1991: 80001738PR Captain (Mrs) Ainslie Molyneux Jones from the Personnel Service Corps died of cancer at her home in Weirda Park, Pretoria. She was 47.
09 May 1993: 82689546AR Rifleman Thintswako Prince Chauke from 7 SAI died as a result of a gunshot wound, accidentally inflicted while he was on foot patrol near Welgewaagt. He was 21.
09 May 1998: 94072410 Lieutenant Colonel L. B. Ngqungwana from Western Cape Command was killed in a private motor vehicle accident at Crossroads. He was 52.
Their names and sacrifices will not be forgotten.