Person Information
[de Vito, R.N., Rfn]
Details of the Person
Person
Number		 1778 *
Surname de Vito  (1) Initals R.N. Views 1261
Date 1980-06-10 (12) Date of Birth Unknown Corps ARMY
Year 1980 (189) Place Chitumba, Angola
Full Names Roberto Nicola "Danny" Military
Number		 Death Age 19
Cause Detail
Cemetery Grave
War BORDER SWA/Namibia Border War
Unit 61Mech (60)
61 Mechanised Battalion Group
Rank
Rifleman
Rank Rfn (1387)
Description Rifleman
Address Hey You, Troopie, Anneman etc :-)
Awards

Awards Unknown

I have no information on what awards (if any) this person received.

Please email any information you have on the awards of this person to John Dovey (john@justdone.co.za)

Dedications
List of Dedications
Dedication

Danny, you were one of the greatest and most sincere people I ever knew - What a waste - to give your life for a country like that...

You were not suppoed to be there bro...
Dedicated
By		 Email
Address		 Date Added Gravatar
Marc mschoonebeek@xtra.co.nz 2004-01-13 03:30:48 Gravatar Image
Dedication

Danny was a hero - but unfortunately this country does not realise that. He died for nothing

We will always remember you Dan.
Dedicated
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Paul Green pgdownunda@cjb.net 2004-01-13 03:33:37 Gravatar Image
Dedication

Danny was a great nickname and very fitting. I only called him Rob. He was a fantastic soldier and a great friend.

God took the best this day 10th June 1980 in Angola.

Rest in peace, dear friend.
Dedicated
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Address		 Date Added Gravatar
Gareth Rutherford gareth.rutherford@iss-shipping.com 2005-01-07 23:22:01 Gravatar Image
Stories
List of Stories
Story

This was a really special friend. The coolest dude. He smoked more cigarettes out of my packet than I did. It was a pleasure and he gave me a whole packet the day before his passing. He took all our guard duties the night before that fateful day. It was as if he knew. We had suffered together for many gruelling months during our training and became very good friends. We had a lot of fun in De Brug, Lohatla, Messina and Border camps.

Operation Sceptic, Smokeshell was where we encountered an unfortunate sequence of events leading up to this disaster. Robert died instantly as he jumped out of the top of the ratel. The compressed air tanks to open the doors had exploded and the only exit was through the top hatches. As he exposed to the top he was severed in two by anti-aircraft rounds where I was first to find him. Andrew and Frank got shrapnel inside and died later. Mike died also as he jumped out the top.

Robert was not alone here, he was with close friends. He was a comrade I was proud to be alongside in such an intense battle.

My brave friend and a gallant soldier, Robert de Vito, died june 10th 1980 50km into Angola fighting SWAPO and MPLA.

Miss you Rob.
Added By Email Address Date Added Gravatar
Unknown Unknown 2005-01-07 22:31:43 Gravatar Image
Story

Rob,

You and I got on like a house on fire. We shared not only special moments in our army career but in our home lives as well. I just wanted you to know that I have kept my promise to you and still continue to talk to your Mom. You will always be in my heart and in my mind. And there will always be stories to tell about the mischief you got up to (not forgetting the trains you missed).

Take care my dear friend
Added By Email Address Date Added Gravatar
Marco Caforio PamelaCaf@gmail.com 2008-10-03 13:03:42 Gravatar Image
Images
List of Images
Newspaper article announcing the deaths of 16 soldiers.
List of Images
Person Number Name
1699 [Du Toit, J.J., Lt]
1729 [Kruger, P., Cpl]
1775 [Cronje, S.M., Rfn]
1778 [de Vito, R.N., Rfn]
1783 [Fourie, J.H., Rfn]
1795 [Joubert, P.J., Rfn]
1799 [Kemp, G.J., Rfn]
1804 [Lello, F.J., Rfn]
1806 [Loubser, F.J., Rfn]
1808 [Luyt, M.C., Rfn]
1811 [Madden, A.J., Rfn]
1854 [Venter, G.J., Rfn]
1855 [Warrener, P.W., Rfn]
35471 [Hymutenyi, E, Rfn]
35472 [Paulus, A., Rfn]
35473 [Haipengi, T., Rfn]
Fort Klapperkop Memorial - Wall of Remembrance
List of Images
Person Number Name
1761 [Ackerman, A.C., Rfn]
1762 [Adonis, J.J., Rfn]
1763 [Alberto, R., Rfn]
1764 [Almeido, P., Rfn]
1765 [Angelo, S., Rfn]
1766 [Augusto, M., Rfn]
1767 [Albino, B., Rfn]
1768 [Balie, H., Rfn]
1769 [Barnard, G.J.A., Rfn]
1770 [Bosman, J.A.P., Rfn]
1771 [Cabinda, J., Rfn]
1772 [Caliango, A., Rfn]
1773 [Calitz, J., Rfn]
1774 [Colling, H.B., Rfn]
1775 [Cronje, S.M., Rfn]
1776 [da Trinidade, C.C., Rfn]
1777 [de Beer, P.J., Rfn]
1778 [de Vito, R.N., Rfn]
1779 [Eduado, A., Rfn]
1780 [Elifas, P., Rfn]
1781 [Engelbrecht, F., Rfn]
1782 [Ernesto, J.D., Rfn]
1783 [Fourie, J.H., Rfn]
1784 [Francisco, J., Rfn]
1785 [Fredericks, J., Rfn]
1786 [Froneman, B.A., Rfn]
1787 [Geel, P.J., Rfn]
1788 [Goliath, D., Rfn]
61 Mech Memorial Needle (New Location - SA Military Museum, JHB)
List of Images
Person Number Name
267 [Croeser, D.P., Rfn]
304 [De Jager, F., Tpr]
398 [Du Toit, J.D.G., Rfn]
535 [Groenewald, A.S., Rfn]
538 [Groenewald, P.H., Rfn]
560 [Hattingh, G.P.C., Rfn]
578 [Hendricks, C., Bom]
588 [Hind, A.H., 2Lt]
602 [Hough, L.P., Rfn]
628 [Jagga, R.V., L-Cpl]
707 [Kleynhans, J.H., Cpl]
721 [Koen, P.G.L., 2Lt]
729 [Kotze, C.J., Rfn]
798 [Lecuona, M.J., L-Cpl]
847 [Luiters, W.R., Rfn]
942 [Meiring, M., 2Lt]
952 [Metcalfe, H.J., Rfn]
1065 [Nieuwenhuizen, V.V., Rfn]
1133 [Peterson, M., Rfn]
1159 [Potgieter, J.H., Rfn]
1172 [Pretorius, S., Rfn]
1196 [Redelinghuys, J.J., L-Cpl]
1381 [Swart, H.L., Cpl]
1452 [Van Brakel, D.G., Rfn]
1478 [Van Jaarsveld, M.J., Cpl]
1536 [Van den Berg, J.J., L-Cpl]
1569 [Van der Westhuizen, D.R., 2Lt]
1609 [Visagie, P.A., Rfn]
1676 [Wolfaardt, B.J., Rfn]
1699 [Du Toit, J.J., Lt]
1729 [Kruger, P., Cpl]
1734 [Evans, D.J., L-Cpl]
1756 [Bonnet, P.J., Pte]
1758 [Joubert, J.J., Wrn]
1775 [Cronje, S.M., Rfn]
1778 [de Vito, R.N., Rfn]
1783 [Fourie, J.H., Rfn]
1795 [Joubert, P.J., Rfn]
1799 [Kemp, G.J., Rfn]
1804 [Lello, F.J., Rfn]
1806 [Loubser, F.J., Rfn]
1808 [Luyt, M.C., Rfn]
1811 [Madden, A.J., Rfn]
1824 [Nortje, C.J., Rfn]
1855 [Warrener, P.W., Rfn]
2006 [Van Rooyen, L., Rfn]
2049 [Potgieter, J.L., Cpl]
2085 [Van Zyl, G., Lt]
2090 [Coetzee, S.F., CO]
34727 [Lang, G., Wrn]
34728 [Hall, P., Rfn]
34729 [Kotze, J.J., Wrn]
34730 [Matwa, W.Z., L-Cpl]
34731 [Du Toit, J., Lt]
34732 [Mokgatle, J., Rfn]
34733 [Claasen, N.J., Rfn]
34734 [Sandi, A., Rfn]
35149 [Lamb, G., L-Cpl]
61 Mech Memorial Needle (Original Location - 61 Mech BN Grp HQ, Army Battle School, Lohatla)
List of Images
Person Number Name
38 [Badenhorst, J.J., Gnr]
267 [Croeser, D.P., Rfn]
304 [De Jager, F., Tpr]
398 [Du Toit, J.D.G., Rfn]
535 [Groenewald, A.S., Rfn]
538 [Groenewald, P.H., Rfn]
560 [Hattingh, G.P.C., Rfn]
578 [Hendricks, C., Bom]
588 [Hind, A.H., 2Lt]
602 [Hough, L.P., Rfn]
628 [Jagga, R.V., L-Cpl]
707 [Kleynhans, J.H., Cpl]
721 [Koen, P.G.L., 2Lt]
729 [Kotze, C.J., Rfn]
798 [Lecuona, M.J., L-Cpl]
847 [Luiters, W.R., Rfn]
942 [Meiring, M., 2Lt]
952 [Metcalfe, H.J., Rfn]
1065 [Nieuwenhuizen, V.V., Rfn]
1133 [Peterson, M., Rfn]
1159 [Potgieter, J.H., Rfn]
1172 [Pretorius, S., Rfn]
1196 [Redelinghuys, J.J., L-Cpl]
1381 [Swart, H.L., Cpl]
1452 [Van Brakel, D.G., Rfn]
1478 [Van Jaarsveld, M.J., Cpl]
1536 [Van den Berg, J.J., L-Cpl]
1569 [Van der Westhuizen, D.R., 2Lt]
1609 [Visagie, P.A., Rfn]
1676 [Wolfaardt, B.J., Rfn]
1699 [Du Toit, J.J., Lt]
1729 [Kruger, P., Cpl]
1734 [Evans, D.J., L-Cpl]
1756 [Bonnet, P.J., Pte]
1758 [Joubert, J.J., Wrn]
1775 [Cronje, S.M., Rfn]
1778 [de Vito, R.N., Rfn]
1783 [Fourie, J.H., Rfn]
1795 [Joubert, P.J., Rfn]
1799 [Kemp, G.J., Rfn]
1804 [Lello, F.J., Rfn]
1806 [Loubser, F.J., Rfn]
1808 [Luyt, M.C., Rfn]
1811 [Madden, A.J., Rfn]
1824 [Nortje, C.J., Rfn]
1855 [Warrener, P.W., Rfn]
2006 [Van Rooyen, L., Rfn]
2049 [Potgieter, J.L., Cpl]
2085 [Van Zyl, G., Lt]
2090 [Coetzee, S.F., CO]
34727 [Lang, G., Wrn]
34728 [Hall, P., Rfn]
34729 [Kotze, J.J., Wrn]
34730 [Matwa, W.Z., L-Cpl]
34731 [Du Toit, J., Lt]
34732 [Mokgatle, J., Rfn]
34733 [Claasen, N.J., Rfn]
34734 [Sandi, A., Rfn]
35149 [Lamb, G., L-Cpl]
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