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Calitz , Johan (J)

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Photo of Calitz Photo of Calitz
Identity
Person No.
29682
Old ROH no.
1773
Service No.
76509793BG
Last Name
Calitz 16
First Name
Johan
Initials
J
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1960 (±1 yr) 416
Age at Death
20
Death Record
Date of Death
13 August 1980 107
Cause code
DOW 2,732
Died of wounds
Cause of Death
Died of wounds 2,434
Died of wounds, received on patrol in the Okatopi region of Ovamboland in the latter half of 1980 his section were ambushed by approx 50 Swapo who were part of the annual mass incursion into the area from Angola during the wet season. Johan was fatally wounded in the encounter and unfortunately later died on the casevac chopper. Three others in the section were wounded in the fire fight. It was their third and final border duty during national service having previously served at Ruacana and Ombalantu. He lived in Bloemfontein and was known as Wingnut by his platoon mates due to his prominent ears
Military Service
Branch
Army
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
3 South African Infantry Battalion 70
Corps
South African Infantry Corps 10,342
Unit
Unknown
Secondary Unit
"B" Coy. 2nd Platoon
Defence Force
SADF 3,817
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,850
Locality
Free State 737
Cemetery
BLOEMFONTEIN (SOUTHPARK) CEMETERY 50
Grave Reference
NEW SEC 216 1
Memorial
1980 Army (Abel–Ralikwatha). Photograph: South African War Graves Project.
Names on 1980 Army Abel-Ralikwatha
Memorial
SADF Wall of Remembrance
Location
On a koppie at the Voortrekker Monument, overlooking Pretoria
Address
Voortrekker Monument, Eeufees Road, Groenkloof, Pretoria, 0181, South Africa
Coordinates
-25.77639, 28.17583 · OpenStreetMap
Panel
1980 Army Abel-Ralikwatha
On the panel
1980 Army. Left column. 20th name from the top (Calitz J.)
Unit History
Part of
Training Formation
Awards
Pro Patria Medal
Pro Patria Medal
South Africa
Pro Patria Medal warrant, Government Gazette No. 5171 (25 Jun 1976), Rule 5, as amended by GG No. 5575 (3 Jun 1977); discontinued by GG No. 25213 (25 Jul 2003, Schedule corrected by GG No. 26778, 17 Sep 2004) for service on/after 27 Apr 2003. Gazette extracts: https://rohsa.co.za/award.php?id=24
Notes

Son of Mrs. S. van der Merwe | Graham Last Post 13 Aug re-post: succumbed while being ferried to AFB Ondangwa on the casevac helicopter.

Research notes

SADF Wall of Remembrance (Voortrekker Monument): named on photograph "1980 Army (Abel–Ralikwatha). Photograph: South African War Graves Project.". 1980 Army. Left column. 20th name from the top (Calitz J.).
14 Sep 2026: Pro Patria Medal added -- database-wide sweep for SADF Border War operational-area deaths within the medal's gazetted window (25 Jun 1976 - 27 Apr 2003), per the warrant's died-before-qualifying-period provision. See PersonAward.Citation for the gazette references.

Citations
Unknown
External References
Stories 2
on 26 February 2004 · via source
Johan Calitz was a member of Platoon 2, Bravo Company, 3 SAI . While on patrol in the Okatopi region of Ovamboland in the latter half of 1980 his section were ambushed by approx 50 SWAPO who were part of the annual mass incursion into the area from Angola during the wet season. Johan was fatally wounded in the encounter and unfortunately later died on the casevac chopper. Three others in the section were wounded in the firefight. It was their third and final border duty during national service having previously served at Ruacana and Ombalantu. He lived in Bloemfontein and was known as Wingnut by his platoon mates due to his prominent ears. Unknown
by JD on 20 June 2012 · via source
Wingnut, Johan se bynaam, was ons MAG gunner gewees. Hy het altyd so 'n skaam glimlaggie gehad, stil ou, goeie vriend. Uit op 'n patrollie het ons 'n TB gestig en later rondom patrollie gestap voor ons na die TB teruggekeer het. SWAPO het toe 'n hinderlaag vir ons op pad terug na die TB gestel en ons het daarin gestap. Johan is in die kontak noodlottig gewond, Lighty en een van die ander manne (vergeet hulle name, altwee Engelse ouens) is ook liggies gewond. Die casevac chopper het gedraai om by ons uit te kom. Ek onthou Johan het aanhoudend ges?? hy kry koud en is so bitter dors. Toe is die chopper daar en ou Wingnut is weg, vir altyd. Ek het sy graf in Bloemfontein opgespoor, in 'n verwaarloosde begrafplaas aan die suide van die stad, ingedruk tussen die groeiende lokasie, die vullisterrein en die N1. Dit was winter toe ek daar was. Ek onthou toe Johan se laaste woorde. En ek huil vir my vriend wat weg is, waarvoor niemad skynbaar omgee nie, daar waar hy l?? tussen die plastieksakke en die vaal Vrystaat vlaktes waaroor die wind so treur. Ek huil oor die verkwisting van 'n jong lewe, oor die verwaarlosing, oor die verlies van ons land en sy seuns. En dis alles verniet! Johan my tjom, jy's in 'n baie beter plek, ek sal jou nooit vergeet nie.
Dedications 2
on 07 August 2006 · via source
Johan was a buddy in my platoon, quiet, reserved, with a shy smile and always one for a bit of fun. If I remember correctly he was our MAG gunner. What can I say. The last words I heard him speak were: " Dis so koud, ek kry koud ." That day will be with me forever. This is for his chom Fires, with the red hair who lost it bigtime when our company was told Johan was gone. Hulle is nooit weg nie! Ons onthou jou goed Johan, ek sal nooit vergeet nie. Johan Steyn (JD) 77255479BG
by undefined:undefined on 11 July 2017 · via War in Angola
A member of 3 SAI Bravo Company 1979/80