A veteran of the liberation struggle, Tomas Ausiku, better known by his combat name Omukukutu Wambekele, hails from Okafitu-Kakuni in the Outapi Constituency of the Omusati Region. He shared his experiences of war and his reflections on what Heroes’ Day signifies for him with the NBC News team. Ausiku joined the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) at a young age, in his early twenties. He was part of the 8th Battalion and says he was one of the founding members who helped establish the battalion in the early 1980s while in exile. He described his first battle, which took place on 4 May 1978 at Omufitu Washilambo in Angola, as not an easy fight, as they had to fight by all means to ensure they defeated the enemy. This battle, he said, was intense and painful, and it cost them 12 soldiers who were killed during the confrontation. He said he was trained by men well known by their war names, Shindjiwu Shanangula and Kafinana, from Oukwanyama. After independence, Ausiku joined the NDF in 1995 and retired as a staff sergeant in 2018. He now lives in his home, which he describes as being in a peaceful and free Namibia, compared to how it was before. He says Heroes’ Day is an important day, as it makes him feel like a war hero for this country. He urged the youth to respect the day, maintain the peace, and not sell the country. Andreas Uugwanga #NBCNews #nbcdigitalnews #nbcDSTV282 #nbcGOtv20 #nbcPlusApp