Mendel, son of Malka and Eliezer, was born on September 10, 1938, in Targo Promos, Romania, and immigrated to Israel with his family in February 1959. He acquired his education in the city of his residence in Romania. When he immigrated to Israel, Mendel was sturdy and handsome, about twenty years old, and soon became accustomed to the life of the country and learned Hebrew. He also mastered the Romanian language, his mother tongue. The Formajo family built their home in Rishon Letzion, and Mendel began to work as a professional. He loved touring and traveling around the country after calling his landscapes and getting to know the vegetation. He fell in love with Israel and was willing to contribute with all his might to Israel. Mendel was drafted into the IDF in May 1963 and assigned to the Armored Corps, where he was trained as a rifleman in the Armash unit. Among his friends he was known as a good soldier and devoted to his duties. In the June 1967 battles, Mendel participated as a reservist and was awarded the “Six Day War Award”. Two years after the war, Mendel became acquainted with Shula. “It was love at first sight,” she says, noting that they decided to establish a home in Israel a few months after their acquaintance. Mendel prepared an excellent furnished home for his wife, and made sure she did not have to go to work after the wedding. In 1970 Mendel and Shula married and nine months later, in mid-November 1970, their eldest son Eliezer was born. “Mendel was happy, he loved the boy, and the boy called him from the very first moment, a devoted father was Mendel, a good and loving husband, he worked hard to support us, took care of his parents and his sisters.” In September 1972, Shula and Mendel had a daughter named Orly. Mendel wanted to give his children a decent life and a good education. “He wanted to give them a comfortable life and the knowledge that a broad education is a valuable business card in life,” he said, “he always said that he hoped his children would not have to work as hard as he did.” Mendel was called from time to time for reserve duty. He did his duty impeccably, not grumbling or resenting. Eliezer and Orly were seated at the table, and his pregnant wife, Shula, conducted the joy and a smile of happiness on her lips: “We were happy, nothing was missing, and no one expected that the year would end without our Mendel.” On Yom Kippur, Mendel was called to his unit in the Armored Corps, and he was separated from his wife, children and parents, and he encouraged them, “everything will be all right,” he promised and went on his way to the southern front. Ten days he fought tirelessly, displaying courage and devotion to the tasks that were imposed on him. His comrades in the unit say that Mendel encouraged their spirit during the difficult times. On October 18, 1973, Mendel was killed by an Egyptian sniper near the Abu Sultan camp. He was laid to rest in the civil cemetery in Rishon Letzion. He left behind a wife, a son and a daughter, a mother and two sisters. After his fall, he was promoted to corporal. In late March 1974, about five months after his death, his son was born. “We decided to call him Mendel, after the father, who did not get to know,” Shula said in pain. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family of Formajo, the unit commander wrote: “Your son, Corporal Mendel Formago, was a combat soldier in an armored unit. He was a courageous fighter who carried out the combat missions that were imposed on him with great sacrifice and sacrifice. He was popular with his friends and commanders. His fall was a heavy loss to our unit. “
