Francois Claassens, MD

Physician; Major, South African Special Forces (Ret.)

Why I am a Marauder

I was involved in the Angolan Civil War in the 'eighties and saw its terrible and lasting effect on the country

Francois Claassens and Family

and its people. I have some good memories of comradeship and soldierly adventure, but the most vivid and troubling images are those of the mute suffering of the innocents.

For those who died the war was quickly over, but for those left behind its devastation continues to this day. In war everyone loses.

I wish it was not so, but I came to accept war as part of the human condition - as long as people have territories in dispute or adversarial ideologies to defend they will kill each other in order to do so. Hopefully, one day this will change, but for now all we can do is to try and minimize the suffering.

Moore's Marauders makes a positive and idealistic statement to counter the cynicism of war. It offers me an opportunity to help healing its wounds and I feel good about our efforts to bring closure to the families of the fallen.

The fascinating history that comes to light in the process reveals the wastefulness of war. I hope we will learn from it.

Background: Francois Claassens, MD

Born: Lichtenburg, South Africa

Current Residence: Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI)

Education: Graduated Medical School University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, 1978

Military Service: Major, South African Special Forces (Ret.); Veteran of the Angola conflict.

Special Training: Over 70 parachute jumps, both over land and sea; small boat training, coastal navigation, mixed gas, pure oxygen and attack diving, demolition training, both land and underwater.

Noteworthy Accomplishments: Raising a young family at age 53

Hobbies and Interests: Spear fishing, music, pottery, outdoor adventure

Marital Status: Married, wife Vangie with sons Nicholas and Henni, and daughter, Ossie 

*************************************************************************************

Practicing History:

Current: Rota Health Center, Rota, CNMI

Duties/Responsibilities: Family Physician with ER duties,

1999-2006: Commonwealth Health Centre, Saipan, CNMI.

Duties/Responsibilities: ER Physician, (Department Head 2005), ER staff of eight, community of 120,000

1998-1999: Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

Duties/Responsibilities: CME; ACLS updated, Aug. 2005; Senior Staff Physician, Trauma Unit, Managing high volume Politrauma; CME; ATLS qualified, Oct.1999

1986-1999: Family Physician with ER duties, Grimshaw, Alberta, Canada.

Duties/Responsibilities: Obstetrical Care included Caesarean Sections, Forceps Deliveries, Tubal Ligations; Minor Surgery included Appendectomy, Hernias, Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy, etc; Provided General-, Spinal- Epidural Anesthesia and Conscious Sedation

1990: New York University.

Duties/Responsibilities: CME; Emergency Medicine Primer

1994: Temple University, Cayman Brac,

Duties/Responsibilities: Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine, ACLS qualified,

1980-1986: South African Defense Force

Duties/Responsibilities: Medical Officer; Seaward orientated 4 Reconnaissance Regiment, Langebaan; Combat related Medical duties included Operational Support, Airborne Management of Casualties, Disaster Management, Triage and Casualty Evacuation and Command of Field Hospitals. When not deployed operationally Medical duties and Training continued in various disciplines in Tygerberg Hospital, Parow, South Africa; (2000 bed teaching hospital)

1981–1984:

•    7 months Intensive Care Unit,

•    8 months Anesthesiology Department,

•    6 months Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

•   2 months Department of Pediatrics

•   3 months in Pediatric Intensive Care

1985:

•  3 months Obstetrics and Gynecology

• CME; Diving and Aviation Medicine Courses.  

1979-1980:

• Internship, Addington Hospital, Durban, South Africa

• 6 months Internal Medicine including Psychiatry.

• 6 months General Surgery, including rotations through Orthopedics, Urology.

About Moore's Marauders...

Moore's Marauders is a non-profit organization that receives no government funding. We rely solely on your contributions to help us locate the 35,000 WWII MIAs the U.S. government maintains are still recoverable.

WWII MIA Home    Latest WWII MIA Activity   WWII MIA Research   Featured Story 

  Find Your MIA   Merchandise    Donate   Join the Marauders

   Meet the Marauders   POW MIA News WWII Battles   Our Mission   Contact