Dana, Henry (Rico)

Son of Rosa and Victor, he was born in 1937 in Egypt. He completed his elementary and high school studies in his native country, studied banking and received certification in this field. After the Sinai Campaign, when the Egyptian government pressed on the Jewish population that lived there, In 1957, he settled in Kiryat Motzkin. He joined the IDF in November 1961. He underwent basic training and was a combat medic, finished as an outstanding apprentice, and was assigned to serve in the infantry. After his discharge, Henry enlisted in the police. For a short time he worked as a policeman until he found a job in his profession, as a clerk at the Union Bank. He persisted in this work until he fell. His colleagues at the bank described him as a kind person, with a sense of humor. Henry advanced to a senior position in his work. For many years Henry served as a combat paramedic, fought in the Six Day War, was promoted to corporal, and at the end of 1968 was promoted to sergeant. During the War of Attrition he was wounded near the Suez Canal and was hospitalized. After he was discharged from the hospital, Henry was recognized as an IDF veteran, but refused to leave his unit, and continued to serve in the infantry as a combat medic. At the outbreak of the Peace for Galilee War, Henry was called to reserve duty several times in Lebanon, despite his age. On 25 Kislev (11.11.1982), he served as a paramedic in the Military Government House in Tire. A gas tank exploded in the government house, causing the building to collapse. Many Israelis were killed and injured in the explosion, among them Henry, who was 45 years old at the time of his death. He left behind a wife, three daughters, three brothers and three sisters, and his unit commander wrote in a letter of condolence to his family: “… He stood out in his gentleness, his peace of mind, and his professional knowledge.”