Killed in a Contact

We were on a seek and destroy operation in Zambia searching for SWAPO bases, when crossing a Omaramba at mid day in the heat of the African sun, we took shade on the other side and set down to rest (Charlie Company). Our Company comander ordered small patrols to do a reccie of the area ahead as he suspected possible movement, Lt. Heinlien took a patrol to north west and just after he left Lt Coetzee took one to the North. SWAPO were watching us the whole time as we had stopped just short of their ambush, which we vastley outnumbered, Lt. Coetzee walked right into the ambush, on seeing SWAPO Johannes positioned himself infront of Lt. Coetzee and took a bullet in the chest. All hell broke loss, as SWAPO fled and ran into a ambush of Lt. Heinlien. On leaving the TB to support the fire fight of Lt. Heinlien, I found Johannes in the care of a panicking medic and assisted him by cutting a drip to pieces to use the plastic as a blockage for the chest wound, but could already see Johannes was slipping away. On returning back to the TB with our wounded and the 10 SWAPO's killed we found that Johannes had sadly passed away, which was a great loss to Charlie Company as being such a jolly person he was always around the leader group to share a joke and mess around, which always made the long patrols shorter. He received the Honorus Crux for his deed and will always be remembered by the members of Charlie Company of 1979.

The Hotel California piece is that he wanted to learn English and I told him it meant Good Morning, he would greet everyone with a “Hotel California” in the mornings… "Hotel California - Koporal" etc....

The citation for Johannes Conga's deed of bravery which merited the Honoris Crux (Postumous) reads:

 On 12 September, 1979,  a security patrol of section strength was sent from a company base to secure a particular area. The platoon commander was 2/Lt. G.M. van Niekerk. Two men from another platoon accompanied them, 2/Lt. Coetzee and Rifleman Johannes Conga. The Patrol moved in formation, with the two men alongside the platooncommander, when they were ambushed by about 50 of the enemy.

 Heavy machine-gun and rifle fire poured into them. The two officers were pinned down and could not exercise control over the situation or reply to the fire.

Rifleman Conga then stood up and began shooting, while moving sideways, so drawing the enemy fire away from the officers onto himself, to allow the officers to reorganize the defence.

The enemy machine-gun had switched from the officers to Conga when he bravely stood up and took them on. Lance Corporal McGrath then managed to shoot the PLAN machine-gunner.

The tables were turned and ten of the enemy killed.

Conga was mortally wounded and was posthumously awarded the Honorix Crux.