Gal, Eitan

Eitan was born on 8.11.1948 in Rishon Letzion, where he studied at the Be’eri Elementary School and at the Ariel High School in his hometown, where Eitan was a good and alert student. He was an outstanding athlete, especially in the field of swimming and participated in various competitions, and even won medals and certificates. He was also a good scorer and participated in the Gadna competitions and was always a music lover, participated in the music department of his school and also played trumpet in the school orchestra Eitan was naturally energetic and life-loving, very friendly and sympathetic to his friends He was always at the center of the activity, stood out in the company, and was willing to help others willingly, he was a faithful son and devoted to his parents, taking care of his family and helping his brother. Eitan was drafted into the IDF in mid-November 1966 and volunteered for the Armored Corps and completed a course for tank commanders and was assigned to an armored unit, first as a tank gunner and later as a non-tank officer. Had a sergeant rank. He was an excellent gunner, and according to his commander, he was a courageous and dedicated soldier and commander. He always performed all the tasks assigned to him efficiently and with dedication. According to his comrades-in-arms, he used to stand up first against the enemy, excited his friends and subordinates even during the most difficult hours of the fighting and led them to battle with confidence and courage. He always took upon himself the most difficult tasks. In the Six-Day War, Eitan was a force that first reached the Suez Canal and during the battles excelled in great improvisation as he was in the lead tank. In the Armored Corps he became famous as an excellent gunner and during the battles he hit seven Egyptian tanks. After he was released from regular service, he married a wife and joined her in Ein Yahav, where he worked as an agriculturist, but after his firstborn son was born, the family moved to Be’er Sheva and he began to work. Where he served as regional sales manager for a national factory, and served as a tank commander in the Golan Heights. He always advanced before the force and was the first to identify enemy tanks and destroyers. In one of the battles, two Israeli tanks, which boarded mines in enemy territory, were rescued under intense artillery fire. On the 19th of Tishrei 5740 (October 19, 1973) his tank was hit in the battle around the village of Um-Butana. Despite his severe wounds, Eitan continued to aim his tank with hand movements – until he was transferred to the home front and died of his wounds. He was laid to rest at the military cemetery in Rishon Letzion. He was awarded the “Medal of Valor” for his “courage, courage, resourcefulness and comradeship.” He left behind a wife and two children, parents and brother. After his fall, he was promoted to First Sergeant. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, his commander wrote: “Your son was always in the midst of the fighting between the leading tanks in the assault and at any time volunteered to carry out various tasks, such as rescuing our damaged tanks, security missions and more.” His school established in his memory a fund of scholarships, to be awarded each year to two graduates; The newspaper “Bamahane” published a list about him and his bravery in battle.