Reginald Otto

South African military commander (1943–2022)

Eastern Transvaal Command
Orange Free State Command
1 Special Service Battalion
School of Armour

Awards

Relations'Kowie' Jacoba Otto (nee Kleynhans)

Lieutenant General Reginald Otto SD & Bar SM MMM (9 July 1943^[1] – 5 July 2022^[2]) was a South African military commander, who held the post of Chief of the South African Army.^[3]

Military career

He joined the South African Army in 1964 after completing his schooling at Trumpsburg High School.^[2] After Officer training at the Army Gymnasium he was appointed a 2nd lieutenant in 1 Special Service Battalion. He became Officer Commanding of 1 Special Service Battalion in January 1976. He also commanded the School of Armour from 11 January 1981 to 18 December 1983.^[4]

He was promoted to Brigadier and OC Orange Free State Command.^[5] He was later promoted to Major general and GOC Eastern Transvaal Command.^[6]

Awards and decorations

General Otto was awarded the following:

Southern Cross Decoration (SD & Bar)
Southern Cross Medal (1975) (SM)
Military Merit Medal (MMM)
Pro Patria Medal (South Africa) (with Cunene Clasp) ^[a]
Southern Africa Medal
General Service Medal (South Africa)
Unitas (Unity) Medal
Good Service Medal (Gold (30 Years))
Good Service Medal (Silver (20 Years))
Good Service Medal (Bronze (10 Years))
Legion of Merit (Commander) (LOM) (USA)
Order of the Cloud and Banner (4^th Grade - with Special Cravat) (ORB) (Taiwan)

Notes

^ Only the Cunene clasp was awarded, to members who served in Angola during Operation Savannah in 1975 and 1976. Recipients of the clasp wear a button, with the letter C encircled by a wreath, on the ribbon bar.

References

^ http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/1994/12/20/2/6.html ^{[dead link]}
^ ^a ^b Lategan, Herman (9 July 2022). "'n Lewe - Reginald Otto: 'n Militaris se groot hart het ophou klop". Rapport. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
^ Engelbrecht, Leon (10 November 2008). "Fact file: Chiefs of the SA Army | defenceWeb". www.defenceweb.co.za. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
^ Gericke, Marietjie (30 March 2006). "Pantserskool vier 40 jaar van opleiding / School of Armour celebrates 40yrs of training". Volksblad. Archived from the original on 9 December 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
^ "Chronological Report" (PDF). Historical Papers. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
^ http://152.111.1.88/argief/berigte/beeld/1992/12/4/9/19.html ^{[bare URL]}

Military offices
Preceded by Hattingh Pretorius	Chief of the South African Army 1995–1998	Succeeded by Gilbert Ramano
Preceded by JPM 'Hans' Möller	GOC Eastern Transvaal Command 1992–1994	Succeeded by Deon Ferreira
Preceded by Willie Meyer	OC Orange Free State Command 1987–1992	Succeeded by André Bestbier
Preceded by AJ Snyman	OC School of Armour 1980–1983	Succeeded by Alwyn van Niekerk
Preceded by APR Carstens	OC 1SSB 1976–1979	Succeeded by Bertie Botha