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Old 07-14-2012, 06:48   #1
Guymullins
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The Father of South African Special Forces turns eighty today

Col Jan Dirk Breytenbach turned eighty years old today.
Colonel Jan was the founding Officer Commanding of the South African Reconnaissance Regiments, The Recces, who were the SA equivalent of the US Green Berets and SEALs. He then went on to found as the first OC the famous 32 Battalion. This was a unit comprising of turned terrorists and guerrilla soldiers from Angola operating under the command of SA officers and NCOs. 32Bn operated almost entirely behind enemy lines, using enemy weapons and was the most feared SA unit in the 30 year bush war. Colonel Jan then became the first OC of 44 Parachute Brigade (one of my units) and commanded it in the great Battle for Cassinga, an airborne attack on a fortified enemy camp 250 km behind enemy lines. He is South Africas most decorated soldier and now lives in retirement on the Cape Coast where he still swims 3 km a day. Among his many qualifications are selection courses of : British SAS, Rhodesian SAS, French Combat Divers Course, SA Parachute Course, Free Fall and HALO and Divers Courses. He also did a course at your Fort Bragg as a young officer, where he learned his favourite maxim. Find em, Fix em and Finish em.
A picture of he and I at the last Cassinga Day Parade this year.
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Old 07-14-2012, 06:59   #2
Richard
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OFS, Guy. Thanks for those highlights of "a life well lived."

Richard
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Old 07-14-2012, 07:03   #3
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Happy Birthday Col Breytenbach

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Old 07-14-2012, 10:01   #4
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Old 07-14-2012, 10:34   #5
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Happy Birthday Col.....
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Old 07-14-2012, 11:01   #6
greenberetTFS
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........ Guy,which one are you?

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I believe that SF is a 'calling' - not too different from the calling missionaries I know received. I knew instantly that it was for me, and that I would do all I could to achieve it. Most others I know in SF experienced something similar. If, as you say, you HAVE searched and read, and you do not KNOW if this is the path for you --- it is not....
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SF is a calling and it requires commitment and dedication that the uninitiated will never understand......
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Old 07-14-2012, 12:36   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by greenberetTFS View Post
Guy,which one are you?
Teddy,

Misplaced your spectacles again?

Put them on and think about it - the COL just turned 80 and is the most decorated vet in SA. So, which of the two chaps in the pic looks (1) oldest and (2) appears to be the most decorated?

Keep it up and we're gonna have to pull your O&I suffix!

And so it goes...

Richard
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“Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)… There are just some kind of men who – who’re so busy worrying about the next world they’ve never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.” - To Kill A Mockingbird (Atticus Finch)

“Almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.” - Robert Heinlein
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Old 07-14-2012, 13:27   #8
greenberetTFS
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard View Post
Teddy,

Misplaced your spectacles again?

Put them on and think about it - the COL just turned 80 and is the most decorated vet in SA. So, which of the two chaps in the pic looks (1) oldest and (2) appears to be the most decorated?

Keep it up and we're gonna have to pull your O&I suffix!

And so it goes...

Richard
Richard

Gotcha......... However I'm pulling my old walrus card to cover my ass...

Big Teddy
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I believe that SF is a 'calling' - not too different from the calling missionaries I know received. I knew instantly that it was for me, and that I would do all I could to achieve it. Most others I know in SF experienced something similar. If, as you say, you HAVE searched and read, and you do not KNOW if this is the path for you --- it is not....
Zonie Diver

SF is a calling and it requires commitment and dedication that the uninitiated will never understand......
Jack Moroney

SFA M-2527, Chapter XXXVII
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Old 07-14-2012, 13:43   #9
Guymullins
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Quote:
Originally Posted by greenberetTFS View Post
........ Guy,which one are you?

Big Teddy
Big Teddy,
I am the young whippersnapper of 61 in the green jacket. I spoke to the Colonel today and he still gets me sitting to attention, even while singing Happy Birthday to him.
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Old 07-15-2012, 09:45   #10
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Find em, Fix em and Finish em.

Find em, Fix em and Finish em. (I like that )

Happy Birthday Col Breytenbach
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