In Memory Of

CLAASSEN, KEITH

Service Details
Age:
 20
Date of Birth:
 1963-06-26
Service No:
 79526935BT
Rank:
 Lieutenant
Unit 2:
 202 Battalion
Regiment:
 Pretoria Regiment
Date of Death:
 1983-12-18
Cause of Death:
 Killed in action, Ops Askari, ten members that were part of an Anti-Aircraft team deployed near Caiundu in Southern Angola were killed during a fierce fire-fight when their position was attacked by a numerically superior enemy force of more than 200 FAPLA troops. Sergeant Hendrik Albertus Oosthuyse volunteered to remain behind armed with a MAG machine-gun and due to his heroic actions, he delayed the enemy advance sufficiently to allow the remainder of the team to successfully evade capture
Commemoration
Grave Reference:
 A10
Cemetery:
 THABA TSHWANE (NEW) MILITARY CEMETERY
Localitly:
 Gauteng
Country:
 South Africa
Additional Information
Son of WO2 and Mrs. H. W. Claassen, of Pretoria. This was his second 3 month stint as a Platoon Leader.