Like thousands of others, I receive the sparse notice below, every day. It is that particular dates SA Defence Force Roll of Honour. It is dignified and always gives pause to remind that every day has families across our land whose sons, brothers, fathers, fell for their country in sincere moral belief in the uniforms of the SADF, Umkhonto we Sizwe, Apla, Inkatha SPUs, UDF SDUs, Azapo, the SA Police. We must unknowingly pass by grieving citizens all the time - the skittish youngster, the stooped young woman, the broken elderly, each in agonising depth of an anniversarys despair and shattered life. Perhaps we might recall this when we turn to always untrue vitriol; - and just try to be a little softer instead. South Africas limitless grief is the ID of us all. FOR THEM THE LAST POST HAS SOUNDED When the Final Roll was called on 12 December 2014, the following young men from our Generation stepped forward. Brothers and Sisters, let us take a minute to pause and remember these young men who are no longer with us today. 12 Dec 1975: 73253460BA Rifleman David Hercules Dewald Marais from 2 SAI was critically wounded in action during a contact with a Cuban Patrol during Ops Savannah. He was part of a patrol sent out to clear a road which ran parallel to the Nhia River in Central Angola near Bridge 14. The patrol was preparing a TB when they encountered a Cuban patrol dressed in the same uniforms. A few words were exchanged with two Cubans before a fire-fight broke out in which he was critically wounded. Both Cubans were shot dead by counter-fire but because of the situation, Marais could only be evacuated across the Nhia River early the following morning. He unfortunately succumbed to his wounds in the SADF Forward Surgical Hospital at Cela. He was 18. 12 Dec 1979: 76267160BG Rifleman Johannes Jacobus Fourie from 5 SAI was Killed in Action during a contact with PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 20. 12 Dec 1980: Rifleman Gary Lang from 61 Mech Battalion died while in the service of his Country. He was 19. 12 Dec 1992: 90705344HG Rifleman Sabelo Lukhozi from 21 Battalion was assaulted and stabbed to death by persons unknown during a foot patrol in Soweto. He was 24. Their names and sacrifice have not been forgotten
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 10:18:51 +0000
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