Ben-Shlomo (Stark), Israel

Son of Esther and Shlomo, was born on 12.4.1924 in the town of Ribo-Salo, an important Zionist center in northern Yugoslavia, and joined the Hashomer Hatzair youth movement during his studies at the Gymnasium, and in 1941, a few months before the Nazi invasion of his city, I was sent to a youth company in Shaar HaAmakim, and when it became an independent group, I moved to Kibbutz Amir, where I went with the core group to complete Kibbutz Ein Shemer, and became involved in the plantation industry. Sons return to you, homeland, return to your daughters and fall victim to your defense. We are young and full of strength. “In 1944, he enlisted in the Palmach before joining the Palmach. He was especially successful in the Palmach as a sports instructor, and during the struggle against the British he participated in many operations, especially the removal of illegal immigrants from the ships, and as a photo enthusiast he brought many photographs of the long and dangerous journeys. And shortly before the outbreak of the War of Independence he was released and returned to his farm. After about a month he returned to service in the “Yiftah” brigade and as commander of the machine-gun unit participated in battles in the Galilee and later in the front of the center. From the short vacation on the first truce he returned from the farm to the Latrun front. In preparation for the first truce, the Yiftah Brigade was demoted to the central region and took part in the fighting in the Latrun area. At the end of the first truce, the brigade participated in the “Dani” operation and on July 17-18, 1948, towards the beginning of the second truce, the “Haemek” Battalion seized Shilat and controlled the eastern part of the Korikor ridge to threaten the wing of the Legion. In the morning it became clear that the Legion force was holding the western part of the ridge. The enemy attacked the force in the outpost from two directions with the aid of armored vehicles, and that was forced to withdraw. In the harsh retreat in an open area under crossfire, many of the fighters fell. Israel fell in this battle on the 11th of Tammuz 5708 (18.7.1948). On the 11th of Adar 5702 (28.2.1950), along with the fallen soldiers of the battle whose remains were collected from the Latrun front, were transferred to the eternal rest of the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.