Forrest, Yosef (Yozhik)

Yosef (Yozhik), son of Savina and Shimon Forrest, was born on May 20, 1926, in the town of Peshborsk near Lvov, Poland. At the outbreak of World War II he was exiled to Siberia where his parents died of hunger, one sister was murdered, and he remained with a small sister. Yosef succeeded in enlisting as a Christian in the Polish army. He arrived in Israel in 1943 and because he did not find employment, he joined the Polish army again.
After three years he returned to Israel. Yosef served as a member of the Haganah during the declaration of the State of Israel. On May 14, 1948, he served in the 7th Brigade, was stationed in Hulda and trained recruits. Yosef participated in Operation Ben-Nun Bet, the second attempt to conquer the legion complex in Latrun and to break through the road to Jerusalem. In this battle he fell, on the 22nd of Iyar 5708 (May 31, 1948). The day before his death, he had visited his home, and encouraged his wife, saying, “I am not afraid to fight and to die because it is our duty to liberate the homeland.” Yosef left behind a wife, Deborah, and a child. On the 25th of Cheshvan 5710 (17.11.1949) he was reinterred at the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.