Ben-Yaakov, Uri

Son of Rivka and Avraham, was born on 9.7.1930 in Afula and attended the “Geula” elementary school. When he was 15, he was admitted to the vocational training department of the Technion’s vocational school in Haifa, where he studied radio technicians. He was a talented student and graduated with honors in 1948. He was a diligent student and a favorite of his teachers and friends, specializing in his profession, and was active in the Haganah from the age of 16. During one of the activities in Haifa, He was appointed to the military court, but was released a few days later and continued to serve in the Haganah in Afula, where he fulfilled his duties with loyalty and will. Who is recruited in Dorot in the Negev. Uri was asked to join the Palmach (Science Corps) because of his many knowledge, but chose to join the Palmach in order to play combat and attached to one of the Negev Brigade battalions. He served in the reconnaissance unit and later in a heavy machine gun and mortars unit, which specialized in using them. From the day he left his parents’ home, he never returned. In his many heartfelt letters, he expressed his deep awareness of the importance of his role as a fighter for the liberation of the homeland. Uri participated in many battles and all his battalion’s attacks, from the attack on Ashdod until the attack on Hulikat and the breakthrough to the Negev, promising his heavy machine gun the way to the burglars. On the night of July 17-18, 1948, Operation “Death to the Intruder” was carried out with the aim of breaking through the Negev, as a matter of fact for the approaching truce. As part of the operation, the Negev Brigade was forced to conquer the outposts of Kawkhba and Hulikat. The attack failed and the forces were forced to retreat. Uri fell in a battle in Hulikat on July 18, 1948, when Haifa retreated to the last moments of his life. He was buried in Ruhama on June 26, 1950, and was transferred to the eternal military cemetery in the village of Warburg.