Luiters , William Raymond (W R)

He was shot and killed in action on the S.W.A. & Angola border while on footpatrol.

William Raymond Luiters was buried at the Robertson Cementary in the heroes acre, he and my brother were good friends. I remember him and his sister from visiting our home very often.I called my brother today and the first thing he said was that Raymond was a gentle but very bright guy,will put some flowers on his grave next time I passes there.

I knew William Raymond Luiters. I was his platoon sergeant until the night he was killed. He was a storm pioneer of 4 SAI assigned to 61 Mech Bn Gp. As part of O-Company storm pioneers he and the other storm pioneers were assigned to my Anti-Tank Squad since they had no platoon sergeant. His commander was Lt. Naude. On the 9th of September 1985, my squad had to bring back US (unserviceable) Ratel Fire Support Vehicles to base, he and the other storm pioneers was assigned to infantry sections for foot patrols till we came back. He joined Platoon 1 of Alpha company, commanded at the time by 2lt Phillip Bass. The platoon walked into an SAP ambush for insurgents in the area. He was shot and killed by sniper-fire during contact roughly around 20:45 on Friday 6 September 1985 somewhere between the "kaplyn" and Oshikati. The company responded to the attack but ceased the attack when the SAP members identified themselves. Luiters (we knew him as such) was casevac'd but died on the chopper at Oshikati. I was I could say I knew him well but in truth I only knew him as well as any of the other troops in my charge. I was told that he was an orphan and has a sister who lived in Cape Town at the time (he was from Cape Town). He was a private person who kept to himself but very bright. I remember during a stint where he accompanied us for roadblocks in the Otjiwarongo region, he could complete the Huisgenoot Crossword Puzzle without any help. May God bless him for I know some of us like I remember him and will not forget him.