Danny Roxo
Encyclopedia
Staff Sergeant
Francisco Daniel "Danny" Roxo (1933–1976) was a legendary Portuguese
soldier in Mozambique
. Born in Portugal, he moved to Mozambique
in 1951, then a Portuguese colony. He fought the FRELIMO insurgents in Niassa Province
(northern Mozambique) with great success and was decorated by the Portuguese government for his actions.
and joined the SADF and after completing the Special Forces Selection Course was seconded to Bravo Group (later to become 32 Battalion) Daniel was awarded the Honoris Crux
for bravery during Operation Savannah
for an action during the Battle of Bridge 14 at 11.05°N 15.0822°W during which he single-handedly killed twelve enemy soldiers.
He died in a landmine explosion near the Okavango River
on 23 August 1976.
Staff Sergeant
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
Francisco Daniel "Danny" Roxo (1933–1976) was a legendary Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
soldier in Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. Born in Portugal, he moved to Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
in 1951, then a Portuguese colony. He fought the FRELIMO insurgents in Niassa Province
Niassa Province
Niassa is a province of Mozambique. It has an area of 129,056 km² and a population of 1.027.037 . It is the most sparsely populated province in the country. Lichinga is the capital of the province. There are a minimum estimated 450,000 Yao people living in Mozambique...
(northern Mozambique) with great success and was decorated by the Portuguese government for his actions.
South Africa
After the failed Coup attempt in Lourenco Marques (7–10 September 1974) Daniel moved to South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and joined the SADF and after completing the Special Forces Selection Course was seconded to Bravo Group (later to become 32 Battalion) Daniel was awarded the Honoris Crux
Honoris Crux
The Honoris Crux Decoration was a South African military decoration that was awarded from 1952 to 2003. There were two distinct versions.-First type:...
for bravery during Operation Savannah
Operation Savannah (Angola)
Operation Savannah was the name given to the South African Defence Force's 1975–1976 covert intervention in the Angolan Civil War.-Background:...
for an action during the Battle of Bridge 14 at 11.05°N 15.0822°W during which he single-handedly killed twelve enemy soldiers.
He died in a landmine explosion near the Okavango River
Okavango River
The Okavango River is a river in southwest Africa. It is the fourth-longest river system in southern Africa, running southeastward for . It begins in Angola, where it is known as the Cubango River...
on 23 August 1976.
See also
- Battle of Bridge 14
- 32 Battalion (South Africa)