Cohen, Nehemiah

Nehemia, son of Shalom and Shoshana Cohen, was born in Jerusalem in April 1943. In November 1961 he was drafted into the IDF and volunteered for Sayeret Matkal. This unit underwent the entire period of regular service. He was then sent to an officers’ course on behalf of his unit, and he graduated in August 1963 with honors. Then he returned to his unit. With the rank of captain and served there until February 1967, when he returned to the paratroops as deputy company commander. He took an active part in the Six-Day War, and with the fall of his commander, Nehemiah took over command and led his men to a battle near Hirbat Zeitun in the Gaza area. He was in the first caterpillar that penetrated that area despite the enemy fire that fell on him – and on that day, June 5, 1967, he was killed. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.