Viljoen , Karl Paul (K P)

Karl & Johan were on the same flossie we were on (all 54BN (5 SAI)) from SWA to Pretoria. Only 5 Sai changed there BD's (Body Bags) in Grootfontein before the last section of our flight to 1 Mil Hosp in Pretoria. This was under direct orders from Bok Van Zyl (Rooibard) that no-one touches them besides the lads from 5 SAI. A bad day losing 2 good friends. Never to be forgotten. Mark cronje 74562802 - now in Miami - USA Mark Cronje

I'm busy with my operational war diaries from 1978 and 1979 and was doing some research on Eenhana where I was stationed as a medic from 19 June to 10 Nov. I came across this article and checked for any entries about it on that day. This is what I wrote about it on Thursday August 10th 1878. "Two guys were killed at N'konga with a rifle grenade, poor buggers, they would have been going home tomorrow and they die in an accident. Shit" So finally I have the story, sad as it is.

Too many sad stories / events which happened. I was at Nkongo as a corporal / driver in 79 /80 and think so much about the times up there and tragic loss of such good young friends of which memories will remain etched in my memory forever. God bless them. Would like to comunicate with anyone who remembers me-5Sai-B robhoppe@eastcoast.co.za Rob Hoppe

This story is about Karl Paul Viljoen and Johan Le Roux on that fateful day of the 10/8/1978 at Nkongo. What happened was that we B company 5SAI had spent 7 months at Eenhana and Nkongo.Our last patrols had come out the bush on the 9/8/1978 and we were due to be replaced on the 10/8/1978 and then we would head to Southern Slums at Grootfontein on the 11/8/1978. On the morning of the 10/8/1978 platoon 2 went on a follow up near the kaplyn. After a few hours the spoor was lost and the 3 buffels went to go and fetch the platoon. Everyone was in a hurry to get on the vehicles. One of the troops whose name I seem to remember but will not name him was running towards the buffel. He had a rifle grenade on his R1 and a ballistite in the chamber with the safety catch off when he suddenly fell. Upon standing up he accidently pulled the trigger launching the rifle grenade towards Karl and Johan who were standing by the buffel, killing both instantly. The person who pulled the trigger came back to base and was taken away instantly. We never saw him again. This was one of those unfortunate accidents that happened in South West. From that day on when we went back to South West for a further 6 months nobody was allowed to walk on a patrol with their rifle safety off. I was at Nkongo in the aapkas on that day when Sgt Major Koekemoer called the company into the mess tent to tell them the news. It was the only time I saw a PF cry for his troops. There is a further mention made in your records of a Attie Krog who also was from 5SAI who died in South West. The story there was that the July 78 intake at Ladysmith sent some new drivers to Nkongo when we went back to this base about November 78. These drivers had only been in the army about 5 months and could not keep up with the likes of Attie who was an ouman driver and so they damaged a lot of vehicles. By this time a new road had been built from Eenhana to Oshikati and we were now at Eenhana in January 78. It was decided to send Attie in his buffel with 10 of the new drivers from Eenhana to Oshikati, from there the new drivers would return to Ladysmith. Attie let one of the new drivers drive as he knew the guy from school and he sat in the middle seat in the buffel. Luckily everybody strapped in and they decided to spook the new road ie take a chance and not use mine dtectors. This was a bad move as this road had been constantly sabotaged with mines since it was buil

Karl Paul Viljoen was born 25/11/1955, he died during a follow-up operation near Nkongo on 10/8/1978 the day before we were due to return to South Africa after 7 months on the Border. Karl was a Brother in Arms from Pietermaritzburg, Natal. He was actually a Lance Corporal (section 2ic) Platoon 2 Bravo Coy - 5 SAI (54 Battalion). He died along with Johan Le Roux in the Owambo bush. He is forever in my memories, a quiet but strong man. His memorial plaque is in the crematorium section of Mountain Rise Cemetary- PMBurg. Rest In Peace, Karl- Rory.

I and Karl dreamed of going white water kayaking it never happened. But Karl is never forgotten as I remember him when ever I go boating or sit quietly and recall the old times good or bad. He paid the ultimate price and left us behind to benefit from his sacrifice. No, Karl and all the others that did not return home will never be forgotten Stan

Van Doug Brown:
5SAI, Eenhana (korreksie: Nkongo. Dankie Blackie & Henk), 10/08/1978. Viljoen KP, O/Kpl. en Le Roux JG, Sktr: Per ongeluk gedood deur mede-troep met ‘n 103 Granaat.
Die gebied wat gepatroleer was, was berug vir SWAPO aktiwiteite. Daarom het almal met hul vuurwapens, alreeds gespan en met die geweer op ‘R” geloop. Diegene wat met die 103 geweer granaat geloop het, het ‘n balistiese ronte in die “kamer” gehad, die granaat was op “L” gestel en die R1 geweer op “R”.
Die 103 granaat het twee bewapen verstellings nl. (N) vir (near-distance) naby afstand en (L) vir (long-distance) vêr afstand. Ongeag of die teiken vêr of naby is, sal die granaat homself eers bewapen na omtrent vyftien meter vlug-tyd. Ons het altyd met dit op “L” geloop, aangesien die meeste gebiede in Owamboland dig bebos was en ons wou nie tydens nabye-kontak met die vyand, dit afvuur en ons eie magte in gevaar stel nie.
Op diè tragiese dag was die Peleton ‘n dag oor hul beplande voet patrollie. Met kos en water reeds uitgedien, was sommiges moeg en negatief toe die Buffels hul kom oplaai. ‘n Troep, waarvan die naam bekend is, maar nie gemeld sal word nie, het gestruikel en met die opstaan, het hy per ongeluk sy R1 se sneller getrek. Die 103 geweer-granaat vooraan sy geweer het afgegaan en drie meter verder Johan Le Roux agter in sy rug getref, waar hy besig was om teen die Buffel uit te klim. Karl Viljoen het gewag om op te klim, en was deur ‘n klein stukkie skrapnel in die bors getref. Beide was opslag dood. Almal het hul gehaas na Johan, wat ‘n ooglopende ernstige wond opgedoen het. Niemand het dadelik iets agtergekom met Karl nie. Hy het net daar eenkant gelê met absoluut geen merke of bloed aan sy ligaam nie. Eers het hulle gedink hy is dalk net bewusteloos weens sy nabyheid aan die ontploffing. Iemand het sy polslag geneem en agtergekom daar’s groot fout. Toe hulle sy hemp ooptrek, sien hulle die klein gaatjie in sy bors.
Na die insident moes ons ons “geveg-gereedheid” aanpas en met vuurwapens, alhoewel met ‘n ronte in die “kamer”, op “S” (Safe) patroleer. Daar was ook ‘n ondersoek gelas deur die wapenkundiges, spesifiek die ontwerpers en vervaarigers van die 103 granaat.
Karl en Johan; Rus in Vrede Broers. Ons sal Julle vir altyd onthou...
(Ns. Karl se rang is verkeerd aangebring op die Muur te Voortrekker Monument)