Jan Breytenbach

Jan Dirk Breytenbach DVR SD SM MMM
Born	(1932-07-14)14 July 1932
Died	16 June 2024(2024-06-16) (aged 91) George, South Africa
Allegiance	South Africa  United Kingdom[1]
Years of service	1950–1955 South African Army 1955–1961 Royal Navy 1961–1987 South African Army[1]
Rank	Colonel
Unit	1 Parachute Battalion
Commands held	1 Reconnaissance Commando 32 Battalion 44 Parachute Brigade
Battles/wars	Suez Crisis Biafran War South African Border War Angolan Civil War Bophutatswana crisis
Awards	[2]
Other work	Author

Jan Dirk Breytenbach DVR SD SM MMM^[3] (14 July 1932 – 16 June 2024) was a South African Special Forces military officer and author of military books. He is best known as the first commander of 1 Reconnaissance Commando, South Africa's first special forces unit. In his long career, he served in the Suez Crisis, the Biafran War, the South African Border War, and the Angolan Civil War, and attained the rank of colonel before his retirement. He died on 16 June 2024, at the age of 91.^[4]