Duanis, Menashe

Menashe, son of Levanah and Reuven, was born on August 22, 1949 in Tel Aviv-Jaffa. He began his studies at the Netzach Israel elementary school in Petah Tikva, where his family lived. In 1959, the family moved to the Shapira neighborhood of Tel Aviv. He completed his studies at the Yavetz school. He was a cheerful and loving young man, accepted by his neighborhood friends and engaged in extensive social and cultural activities. Menashe’s great love was football. He devoted all his spare time to the game and training and reached an excellent level. As an outstanding footballer he was a regular member of the football team of the Gadna club “Yehuda.” He was a partner in winning the youth league championship in 1964-1965 and winning the Israel Cup for Youth, the Jerusalem Cup in 1967. Menashe was aware of the difficulties of the family and therefore , After completing his studies, worked as a spit until he enlisted in the IDF, and took a driving course in a pre-military framework. Menashe was drafted into the IDF in mid-May 1967 and assigned to the Armored Corps, where he underwent a course for half-track drivers and was sent to serve in a tank brigade. In his unit he was a disciplined soldier who carried out all the tasks assigned to him with precision and completeness. During the Six-Day War he participated with his unit in the battles to conquer the Sinai Peninsula. In these battles he boarded a mine, but miraculously was not injured. In 1969, Menashe was discharged from regular service and assigned to reserve unit of the Armored Corps, where he served as a driver at the Barclays Bank, where he succeeded in applying knowledge and skills Which he acquired as a driver in the IDF. Menashe was a dedicated and loyal worker and was highly regarded by his employers. At the end of March 1973 he married his girlfriend Shula and established his home in Bat Yam. He devoted himself to his home and his family and wanted to increase it, for he loved to care for children but did not get it. His daughter, Livnat, was born after his fall in battle. During the 1973 Yom Kippur War, his unit participated in the battles of containment and infiltration against the Egyptians. On October 7, 1973, as the unit was on the Romanian-Roman route, Menashe’s force encountered the ambush of an Egyptian commando unit. In the battle that took place Menashe was injured and killed. He was brought to eternal rest in the cemetery in Kiryat Shaul. He left behind a wife and daughter, parents and brother. After his fall, he was promoted to sergeant. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, the commander of the unit wrote: “Sergeant Menashe Duannis, who served in an armored unit under my command, was a courageous fighter who carried out the combat missions that were imposed on him with great sacrifice and sacrifice.