Akian, David

David, son of Yaffa and Moshe, was born on May 3, 1953 in Gan Yavne. He studied at the elementary school in Gan Yavneh and Levitzron. Afterward he continued to study at the Gedera High School. After completing one year of studies, he moved to Kibbutz Be’eri, where he worked and studied for two years. David was a member of the Hanoar Haoved Vehalomed movement. He was active in the movement and was sent on its behalf to a course for instructors. After five years of activity in the movement, he decided to find his place in the kibbutz. At Kibbutz Be’eri, he participated in social activities and was a member of the kibbutz committees in the fields of society and culture. David devoted his free time to painting and photography. He was sent by the kibbutz to courses in painting and decoration. He loved the quiet and tranquil village life, where he could devote himself to raising animals, especially pigeons. After leaving the kibbutz, he studied in a course for automotive mechanics at the vocational training center in Ashdod, in a pre-military framework. David was drafted into the IDF in mid-November 1971. After completing basic training at the IDF recruits base, he was assigned to the Ordnance Corps. Afterward he was transferred to serve as a mechanic in the Armored Corps unit in the 7th Brigade. He was a devoted soldier, did everything he had to do with perfection and precision and liked his friends and commanders. In the Yom Kippur War, his unit set out to block the Syrian army on the Golan Heights. On October 10, 1973, he was killed by a direct hit on the vehicle in which he was fighting. He was laid to rest in the cemetery in Rehovot. Survived by his parents and three sisters, he was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant.