this is the story of a South African veteran, he served in the Angolan bushwar as an Ops medic and the tales he used to tell me about he's days on the border... enjoy
As it was back then, every soldier got split into different units specializing certain types of tactics, like RECCE's were the bushwar spies that could sneak up to an enemy strong point and get information about the enemy's intelligence and bring all that intel back to his own home base without getting spotted, or if spotted get out of there without getting shot dead
Then there was 61 mechanised Battalion. These were the soldiers that drove and fought with the Tanks called Olifante and other heavy panzer vehicles. Most veterens from the 61 mech Battalion i have met and they are one of the most popular veterans.
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on the photo there are medallions and the 2 unit badges. left is a 61 mech badge and right is the OPS MEDIC Lance Corporal Raymond Victor was one of the medics that patched up and helped his fellow 61 mech soldiers that got wounded in war
most veterans suffer from PTSD post traumatic stress disorder and can't help to cry at nights and struggle to live their lives normally because every dream they have are about the war and the horrific things they have seen
they feel unwanted because they served the country to let people like you who are reading this right now live your normal life because they gave up their own for you. The war wasn't pretty, and just because 61 mech was a tank unit doesn't mean they got injured...
if a MiG flew and caught olifante and Ratels on the field, they would take it out quickly as possible and grenades or landmines shredded a Ratel up that the men inside it looked like mince, and say you survived with just leg or arm scratches and your units men are in there dead shredded up. you can't live another day without unseeing that experience.
Veterans are to be more respected than others because of the fact that they gave up their own privileges so that you can live a life with ease and happiness.
I realised i got off topic sorry wrote from the heart and feelimg I'll try to stay on topic with part 3 enjoy
