Greenwald, David
Son of Bracha and Aharon, was born on September 5, 1964 in Ramat Hasharon. His parents, Holocaust survivors, immigrated from Hungary. David was the only son of his father, while his mother had two older brothers. David studied at Oranim Elementary School in Ramat Hasharon, in the Kalman Middle School, and graduated from the Tel Aviv high school “Yad Singalovski”. He was a cheerful boy, sociable and full of humor. His hobbies were sports, stamps and records. On 28.10.1982, David enlisted in the IDF, and at first he tried to enlist in the naval commando unit, and David volunteered to serve in the Paratroopers Brigade, where he had the right to serve in a combat unit. Whose father did not sign his consent that his son serve in the Paratroopers Brigade, an order was given to transfer him to a rear unit. But David stubbornly objected. He wrote to the head of the Personnel Directorate: “I came with full motivation to the base of recruits, with the feeling that at last I could contribute something … A few weeks ago a letter arrived stating that I was not allowed to serve in a combat unit, When this became known I lost my motivation. Everything that I invested to this day is simply lost … Just a few days before going to Lebanon, this happens. How will I look at my friend’s faces? … My only request is to help me reach an interesting position in the IDF. ” David’s obstinacy broke his father’s opposition. The father gave up and agreed to serve his son in a combat unit. David returned happily to the Paratroopers Unit. The commander of the unit said: “He was Simcha when he returned, appeared before the commander and happily announced that he had defeated his parents, and they signed their consent to serve as a parachutist.” On the way from Lebanon to Israel, when he was in a convoy south of Zahrani on January 12, 1984, terrorists opened fire on the convoy with light weapons, David was critically wounded and spent six days fighting for his life. (18.1.1984), David died at the age of 20. His soldiers told him: “David served us loyally with the Paratroopers’ course, with a steadfast determination and personal struggle to remain in the course despite his right to serve in a rear unit. David’s loyalty to the Paratroopers’ course was dedicated to the next generation. ” David was laid to rest at the military cemetery in Kiryat Shaul in Tel Aviv. He left behind his parents and two brothers. In a booklet published in his memory, his commanders, teachers and friends told him about David’s special character
