Willem du Plessis SD SM SAN (Rtd) is a retired Rear Admiral of the South African Navy. He was appointed as a Defence Advisor to Washington, DC at the South African Embassy with the rank of commodore in the mid seventies, and in 1979 he was expelled by the United States' State Department for alleged espionage[1] back to the Republic of South Africa. He was later promoted to rank of rear admiral and served as Deputy Chief of Staff Intelligence and later seconded to the National Intelligence Service. Despite being expelled in 1979 du Plessis visited the US in 1981 with the then Chief of Staff Intelligence but was recognized and the party had to leave the US. [2]


Willem du Plessis

SD SM SAN (Rtd)
Service / branch South African Navy
RankRear Admiral
Service number64245137PE
Commands
Battles / warsBorder War
AwardsSouthern Cross Decoration SD Southern Cross Medal SM Pro Patria Medal ' Good Service Medal ' Good Service Medal ' Permanent Force Good Service Medal '
Other workNational Intelligence Service

Notes

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Awards

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References

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  1. ^ "U.S. outs S. African attaches". The Spokane-Review. 14 April 1979. p. 11.
  2. ^ Davies, Hugh (16 March 1981). "S. African spy chief told to leave US". Daily Telegraph.
Military offices
Preceded by
unknown
Deputy Chief of Staff Intelligence
Succeeded by
unknown