Eitan, son of Ora and Aryeh, was born on March 13, 1954, in Kibbutz Hasolelim, he spent his first years in the kibbutz, and when he was five, his family moved to Kiryat Shmona, Where he attended the “Metzudot” elementary school. Later, he attended high school in Brunskill, Columbia, and Syracuse University in the United States. When he was a young boy, his family traveled to the United States and got into art and visited with his parents in museums, there and in Europe. When the family returned to Israel, where they first went to Kibbutz Hasolelim, and later, in the late 1950s, they moved to Kiryat Shmona, where Eitan studied at the elementary school, was active in Scouts and studied conservatory music. Eitan had many talents, excelled in his studies and helped his friends a lot, especially members of families of new immigrants. He loved the landscapes of the Galilee and the landscapes of the country in general and traveled extensively with his parents throughout the country. While he was a student in the first grades of the elementary school, he had memorized whole chapters of the Bible and poems he loved, especially Alterman’s poetry. when he reached the age of 13 he was interested in Jewish studies and Kabbalah. in the six-day war he saw from his rooftop The IDF’s breakthrough into the Golan Heights, and together with his father that fought in the north front, he was one of the first ones who toured the Golan Heights. After the Six-Day War, his parents were once again on a mission, this time to Colombia in Latin America. Soon Eitan learned Spanish and English and was an outstanding student in his class, especially in the real professions. He was also interested in the way of life, in the regimes and social life in Latin America, and as an outstanding student he “skipped” a school year and graduated from high school within three years. When his parents returned to Israel, he remained with them in the United States and began studying engineering at Syracuse University. He worked and studied with great diligence and succeeded in completing half of his undergraduate studies within one year when he reached the age of eighteen, he decided to enlist in the IDF and returned to Israel. Until he finishes his army service Eitan was drafted into the IDF at the end of August 1972 and assigned to a reconnaissance unit of the Armored Corps. After completing a reconnaissance course he served in a reconnaissance unit in the north of the country and was very attached to his unit and his comrades in the reconnaissance unit, and they remember him as a good friend and loved by all. He had a great and blessed influence on his comrades, which stemmed from his natural leadership and authority, and during the Yom Kippur War, Eitan served in his reconnaissance unit on the Golan Heights. On the 9th of Tishrei 5734 (October 9, 1973), his unit was charged with attacking the Syrian infantry and commandos, which were placed at the depth of the plateau. Members of his unit went out to assist the Golani force, which fought against the Syrians near the village of Buqa’ta, and the rescue operation was successful. On the way, Eitan’s armored personnel carrier was attacked by heavy Syrian gunfire, which was dug dozens of meters from the road, and Eitan’s friends were hurt in the first barrage, while Eitan was injured and lost his sight. To report the situation to the unit’s headquarters, and those who remained in the armored personnel carrier decided to try to get out of it to find shelter. He was brought to rest at the cemetery in Rishon LeZion, whose family was one of its founders, and he himself was the fifth generation of its founders, leaving behind his parents and two brothers. After his fall, Eitan was promoted to the rank of sergeant and was awarded the Medal of Valor for the discovery of heroism in the discharge of a combat role, with the utmost trepidation. In his testimony, the chief of staff wrote: “Eitan showed his courage, his composure and his commitment to the mission.” His teachers and colleagues at Syracuse University in the United States, together with Tahal and his family, established a scholarship fund for his name in the Technion in Haifa. His parents continue to contribute to this fund, which every year a student at the Technion enjoys the fruits
