Nieuwenhuizen, Vincent Vernon (V V)

Vince was killed late afternoon, on 14 February - Valentines day - 1988. He was in a Ratel 20, when it was hit by a ZSU 23. He, Cpl Kleynhans and the two Groenewalds were all killed.

Rfl VV Nieuwenhuizen, AS Groenewald, PH Groenewald and Lance Corporal Kleynhans were killed at about 17h00 on 14 February 1988. Their Ratel got stuck on a treestump that was left in the tanktrack in front of us. When their Ratel got stuck, Corporal Kleinhans got on our Ratel 22A and rode with me until we got to the shona before the attack. 22C then caught up and the corporal left for his ratel. About half an hour later we heard that 22C was shot out. It was shot on the lefthand by a ZSU23-4, but on the righthand where the Groenewalds sat, a big hole was ripped ou of the ratel. There were two more Groenewalds in the Ratel, the driver and another rifleman. The other rifleman was also seriously wounded in his neck from the shots. The two that were killed were the MAG gunner team. They were very dear friends, we started army together in Alpha Company 1SAI and in 2nd phase went to Bravo Company and then to Bravo at 61 Mech. That day made that Valentines day will never be the same. One always thinks back to the friends who died that day, the sunset as we drove back, with smoke dwindling upwardsand bombs still exploding.