Legacy Conversations - SADF Marco Caforio and Kelvin Luke - 61 Mech
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- Опубликовано: 21 окт 2024
- Marco speaks to us about his time at 61 Mechanised Infantry - an elite armour group that came to great fame during the South African Border War. He took part in Ops Sceptic where his armoured vehicle (Ratel) was shot out with many casualties amongst his friends and comrades. He, wounded, then moved to another armoured vehicle (Ratel) which was soon after also shot by enemy 14.5mm anti-aircraft guns. Marco was now seriously wounded… A fascinating conversation that continues with Kelvin Luke, 1 SAI & 61 Mech telling his side of the same events. If you have questions for Marco and Kelvin, please leave them below. Subscribe and activate the bell to be informed of new episodes.
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Website - www.legacy-conversations.org
Thank you, Marco and Kelvin for sharing your personal journeys and the impact that the experiences had on your and your families lives.
Having served in the same platoon in 1989, I can only try to imagine what fear and pain you had to endure on this fateful June day in 1980. But for the grace of God we were spared your ordeal and sacrifice.
If they ever make the movie Saving Private Caforio, I for one would watch that movie until I can recall every single word off by heart.
Looking back after all these years, I realize that we were only boys, becoming men, by giving it our ALL for each other. The lucky ones came back, some broken, some bruised but as true Brothers in Arms!
I respect and salute you. R.I.P our fallen brothers!
Thank you Koos for keeping the legacy alive until our Last Post are sounded.
Auret Vorster
Platoon 1
Bravo Coy
61 Mech Bn Gp
1989
Salute and RESPECT! from a former 61-Mech member
The utmost respect to these brothers, true heroes...God Bless
As a Italian who grown up in South Africa in the years 70/80 and ex soldier of the Btg Alp Susa Taurinese AMF NATO ltaly. l can say that Marco story Is very touch full beacuse i had many Friends there who fight the Angola war. Much respect a Honor to the South African soldiers. Greetings from Italy.
Correction Chifufya or Oshoxuxwa as is called in Oshiwambo language was a normal SWAPO/ PLAN operational commanding headquarter,No FAPLAs were there.Commanding officer at that time was Philip Nambuli( Alweendo) a senior PLAN officer. That information that it was FAPLA of commanding combined SWAPO/ FAPLA camp is wrong just to put things in proper perspective myself I wasn't there however many who were there are still alive to this day and can testify to my narrative.
I am listening to this for the 2nd time, such a sad day. Keep on rocking Marco.
Morco ,Bon Journo You are a brave man.I respect you and thank you for your service AVANTE
What awesome men , Marco you are a example of what young South Africans need to look up to and Calvin Luke as well , thanks for your service
Saluut Marco you are a hero, God needed you here on Earth that day for a reason. We will all meet in heaven one day....even our supposed "enemies" we fought...😔
BTW my missus is from Italy near Bologna love it there, good people, good wine and best food!!??
Refreshingly (and brutally) honest narration from both guys. Thanks for sharing your remarkable stories. Thank you too Koos for bringing these poignant reflections.
A fascinating account detailing so many events that have taken this long to finally find their way to the families and friends who waited for this. Thank you Marco for this riveting account of a real front line battle from inside the explosive enemy trenches and burning tanks. Your scars are your valour and hold high our great respect.. salute.
Salute! Dankie, Marco en Kelvin vir die deelmaak, van wat met julle gebeur het. Give's, perspective when you standing looking at the rank and names of fellow brothers in arms at the
South African National Museum of Military History. Hoop van harte, dat daar meer van ons makkers sal na voore kom, met julle storie. It, did matter! at a time in the past!
Thank God, we can evolve, and see the folly of the past. Maye God forgive those that send the inosines' to kill and be killed for political gain. (Divide and Concore)
My hart breek, tedink die kak wat ons aanmekaar gedoen het....
Thanks Marco and Kelvin for sharing your very sobering personal recollections of this operation. This history is fundamentally important, warts and all.
Nothing but respect for you men. You did things I will never understand. Thanks for sharing your stories. I am overawed by what you went through, when you were so young.
Thank you so much for sharing your story Marco. You are one of the many youngsters who were forced into a war at a time when you had your entire life in front of you. PTSD is a REAL thing and in my eyes you are one of many unsung heroes. TC bud
You are doing a FANTASTIC job Koos! Obviously high EQ and fantastic listener! TC
Thank you Marco and Kelvin for sharing your experiences. I take my hat of to you guys. Dankie ook vir jou Koos.
Thank you Marco , I tear up listening to the effect on the parents God Bless
What a positive person! Thanks Marco, you are a hero!
You both are HEROES thank you for your service.
Fascinating, honest… touching and blatantly moving! The more I watch these LC chats the more I realised that my chosen role as a PF never had a touch on what you ACF conscripted lads went through! Collectively you were beyond brave - and you did it with a willingness that seems to be lacking in the youth of today! Truly a special generation you were - a proud example for others - God bless you all richly!
Glad to hear Marco sharing, wishing you well.
I remember the night we spoke still. It was surreal,
Please keep sharing,
Jagger
Thanks Marco for representing your team and telling the story, in later years we heard fake rumours when we arrived at oshakati about operational times
These guys are real Hero's, thanks what you did for us in South Africa
Thank you both for these detailed accounts of events on the frontline of smokeshell. Many of these details serve well to fill in the large gaps in the story we hope to re assemble as accurately as possible. Both these accounts by Marco and Kelvin tie in to recordings I have contributed about the same battle fronts. It is greatly reassuring fir many of us who were there, to finally be able to make more sense of the jumbled events each of us have lived with all these years.
This is part of our healing process and a vindication of our regrets and errors.
Thank you koos for this compilation.
@Gareth - can you contact me, I have an idea, 4xsamil@gmail.com, Koos
Marco,Kalvin,Koos , Thank You , God Bless
This was heroism at its best. Rip for those that did not make it. Saluut aan julle makkers.
Brilliant thanks lived in orange Grove in 1970s May have met you in the beer hall be lucky
Thanks for the interview Koos. And @ Marco... good taste in music .
Respect for you Marco.
..Had to watch this again...
On the bright side, Marco being in 2 consecutive Ratel being shotout must have exhausted his ration of bad luck in life, at least that is the joke here in Angola when the ambulance carrying the victim of a car accident has an accident on the way to the hospital.
May the Soul of your friend Rest in Peace, all blessings for you and family, good that you move on.
Awesome my brother
Respect Marco
hindsight is 20/20, but looking back now, sending thin-skinned Ratels against those terribly effective 14.5 and 23mm cannons was questionable. In his book:"Borderstrike", Kroukamp states that the guns were emplaced in mutually supporting square formation, which is standard Soviet doctrine. Deadly. RIP brave men, strongs to the wounded
What else do you send?
Tanks do not have the range and speed and artillery etc can't be moved so fast.
@@cccmmm1234 The mobile Artillery wasn't ready the time Sceptic was done ?
@@noneednoneed5752 It was a huge area. Artillery cannot move enough guns + ammo fast enough to have done the job.
It needed fast, mobile, mech infantry - exactly what were sent. Of course that results in losses. That is war.
Ratel 90's during Modular and Hooper faired very well against t55s compared to the olifant mbt. The ratel 90 needed several rounds to take out a tank at ranges of around 50m. The ratel would literally run circles around the tank. The nerve of the ratel crews is considerable as they only needed to get hit once.
17:48 and 1:13:32 What happened to van der Vyver?
Vd vyver.. Was on the back hatch and managed to jump off the back and joined up with Marco to run off to find a place in one of the other ratels, I think? My heart is devastad hearing about devito family responses.. I picked up the pieces of Roberto that day. And Mike. And Pip.. And Gert and Andrew.. Frank.
I also ended up under my bed after that, as recalled by my own mother. The ptsd took many years to abate.. But these legacy interviews have been a great opportunity for relief. Marco, you lived through a hell.. Well done.
Salute / Saluut.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️'s
Thankyou ouens ......😎
I was there somewhere near that time Rattle
23B
, do you remember Major Lotto .
@Gaz Black - I forwarded your question to Marco, Koos
Thanks, might be spelt Major Lotta or Lotter .
@Gaz - "Marco says he recalls the Major vaguely, Koos"
Koos gesien in die lig van hoe dit in onf land gaan waarom het ons hierdie oorlog geveg? dankie vir hierdie uitsonderlike menslike storie
Daar is beter mense as ek wat jou vraag kan antwoord maar ek dink ons sal so episode doen en dit probeer antwoord. Koos
YSTER
What where the Americans doing in Angola 🇦🇴
F ing up like always, Koos
When is the South African government do right bi all the forced national service men that were forced into the army to go to Angola.
I carry many injuries which has now delbitating influence on me. Many of my friends got killed.
@Jacque R - I don't believe that they will "do right" and so it is - time to help ourselves. Koos