Astrakhan, Shmuel

Shmuel, son of Chava and Gershon, was born on April 25, 1947 in Haifa and studied at the Chaim Weizmann elementary school in Nahariya, where he studied at the Hannah Meisel Agricultural School in Nahalal and completed his studies. He was a loyal friend and never missed an opportunity to help others. Shmuel was drafted into the IDF in mid-August 1966, in the Armored Corps. After completing basic training, and after completing his tank artillery course, he was sent to serve in an armored unit. During the Six-Day War, he fought in Sinai and went through the battle route along it, taking pictures of many of the battles and the places he went through. He loved the armored corps and especially loved the tank “Centurion” and did not stop admiring his strength and virtues. After being released from regular service, Shmulik was called for periods of reserve duty in his unit. During the Yom Kippur War, Shmuel took part in the battles against the Syrians in the Golan Heights. On the 15th of Tishrei 5734 (October 11, 1973), his tank was hit and he was killed in the battle west of Khan-Arnabeh. His family was informed that he was missing, but after two weeks of hope and fear he was reported to have fallen in battle. Shmuel was brought to eternal rest in the military cemetery in Nahariya. Survived by his parents, seven sisters and one brother. After his fall, he was promoted to First Sergeant. His colleagues in the unit praised him very much and said that he never lost his cool and tranquility throughout the fighting, and was a source of encouragement and strength for his comrades in the unit.