Alper, Yiftach

Son of-Miriam and Yekutiel was born on May 8, 1959 in Rishon Letzion, Yiftah joined the IDF and served in the Engineering Corps. After training in basic training, he took a course in engineering and commanding courses, and in March 1978 he rose to the rank of corporal, and in February 1979, Yiftach completed an officer’s course and was promoted to lieutenant colonel. His commanders’ opinion was: “He is a responsible officer, has a serious attitude toward work, is somewhat rigid and has a chance of advancement.” In May 1979, he was appointed as a guide to means of breaking into the engineering corps. On the 5th of Cheshvan 5740 (5.11.1979), when he was working with his apprentices in navigation training, the car he was riding in overturned and Yiftach, who was sitting next to the driver, was killed. He was 20 when he died. He was laid to rest at the military cemetery in Rishon Letzion. He left behind his parents, younger brother and sister. The commander of his unit wrote in a letter of condolence to the parents: “Yiftach served in the unit as an apprentice and commander for more than a year, and during this period he demonstrated remarkable qualities as a person and commander. Yiftach was promoted to lieutenant after his death.