Oliveira Martin Gomes was separated from his family as a teenager in the chaos of the Angolan Civil War and found his way to Walvis Bay, South Africa. It was there were he was recruited into the newly formed 32 Battalion, having shown a proficiency in English and a motivation to serve. He had lied about his age when he joined up, but proved to be a particularly effective operator. He was known affectionately as “Ollie” by his comrades.

During the Battle of Savate in 1980, Gomes fired a mortar at a communist guerilla which hit him square in the shoulder. By all accounts, there wasn’t a lot of much left of that unfortunate communist. Gomes continued to operate with 32 Battalion until the tables turned on him in 4 February 1983. While in an ill-fated contact with communist SWAPO forces, a Yugoslavian M60P1 rifle grenade hit Gomes in the shoulder. It managed to lodge itself through his shoulder and penetrate into his chest. Likely due to typically poor quality control and even poorer handling on the part of SWAPO forces, the rifle grenade did not explode.

Gomes was rushed with military hospital and x-rayed. To the shock of the operating doctor Major C.M de Villiers, the x-ray showed the massive (and live) ordnance stuck inside Gomes. A hastily assembled sandbag and armour plated shield was assembled for Major de Villiers to work behind. The complex procedure was carried out with extreme precision and the rifle grenade was removed. The event served as a testament to the extreme professionalism and skill of South African medical personnel during the Border War. Major de Villiers would be awarded a Honoris Crux for his role in saving Gomes’ life.  The rifle grenade didn’t stop Gomes. He continued to serve as a military intelligence operator and later served in the SANDF Air Force. The word on the street is that he’s still operating somewhere in the world.