Service Details
Name:
 VAN WYK
Given Name:
 LEON
Initials:
 L
Service No:
 72481708PE
Rank:
 Captain
Other Casualties of this Rank
Regiment:
 1 Parachute Battalion
Other Casualties from this Regiment
Date of Death:
 1982-05-02
Other Casualties on this Date
Date of Birth:
 1956-04-06
Age:
 26
Cause of Death:
 Killed in action, east of Otavi during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. A single SWAPO/PLAN insurgent was holding up in a shack on a farm. The shack was surrounded by a section of Paratroopers in the dark and after a heavy volume of fire had been brought to bear on the shack, Leon tried to enter it. However, the insurgent was still alive and fired at Leon with his AK-47 as he burst open the door. Leon was hit by several shots and severely wounded. He died shortly afterwards from his wounds. The insurgent escaped in the confusion
Additional
Information:
Next of kin, Mrs. E. van Wyk
Commemoration
Country:
 South Africa
Other Casualties commemorated in South Africa
Locality:
 Free State
Other Casualties commemorated in Free State
Cemetery:
 BLOEMFONTEIN (HAMILTON) WAR CEMETERY
Other Casualties commemorated in this Cemetery
Grave Reference:
 A2

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