Barry, Gideon (Greg)
Was born in California, USA on October 30, 1961. He was the eldest son of a three-boy family and spent his childhood in a warm and loving home, completing his high school studies in his hometown. He was a young boy who had no Zionist views, but in October 1979 his life changed when he joined a group that was part of a Jewish Agency mission to visit Israel and volunteered to work in the kibbutz. There he changed his worldview and loved the life of the kibbutz and the friends with whom he worked and spent He was hoping to learn international relations, but his longing for Israel and his friends at Kibbutz Gabro, and without any prior warning, reappeared one day in Kibbutz Gazit, hoping to be admitted to the University of Haifa. And was torn between his desire to live in the kibbutz and his desire to learn, and in the meantime he changed his legal status, was registered as an immigrant and was adopted by a family on the kibbutz. He loved people – mostly he had children and they gave him back love. In August 1981, he enlisted in the IDF as part of a Nahal unit that was organized in the kibbutz. At the same time Gideon spoke to his friends about his desire to contribute to the IDF and to the security of the state, and he completed a basic training course in Hebrew and was assigned as a machine gunner in his unit, a paratroopers unit in the spring of 1982, But the visit did not take place, and the Peace for Galilee War broke out and Gideon went up with his unit to the front in Lebanon, and on the 11th of Kislev 5762 (11.6.1982) he fought in the central sector near Ein Zahlata. A Syrian ambush, fortified by positions, opened fire and hit a tank. Gideon, along with his commander and company commander, felt that the captured soldiers were trapped in the burning tank, but the Syrians continued to fire at them as well, and they were hit. Gideon was killed. He was 20 years old. He was laid to rest in the cemetery at Kibbutz Gazit. Survived by his parents and two brothers. Defense Minister Ariel Sharon wrote in a letter of condolence to his family: “Private Gregory Bree gave his life for his homeland, and he fell in Operation Peace for the Galilee in Lebanon when he embarked on rescue operations. The commander of his unit wrote to his family: “Your dear son fell in a daring attempt to rescue the company commander, Major Yitzhak Hali, who was injured a few minutes before him. Dear Gideon was very fond of his comrades in the nucleus and battalion. He was known for his easy and quiet temperament and liked to help his friends at any time and in any situation. “
