Grogan, Avraham Shmuel (Avi)

Son of Perl (Pnina) and Yosef Menachem (George) HaCohen, he was born in Phoenix, Arizona, United States on September 11, 1959. From the age of four he began studying in Jewish educational institutions in Phoenix. He also studied at the Yavneh School in Los Angeles, at a Jewish boarding school in Gateshead and at the Brisk Yeshiva in Illinois, where he enjoyed the love of the Jewish people and the love of the State of Israel. And studied for a year at Yeshivat Or Sameach in Jerusalem. Avi showed great interest in the Land of Israel, his roots in Jewish educational institutions in the United States, and education for the love of Israel. “I would be ashamed to live as a Jew if I did not go to serve my people.” His decision aroused concern in the heart of the mother, but she did not want to live in Israel. Avi immigrated to Israel in 1980, entered the Hebrew ulpan in Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu in the Beit Shean Valley, and moved to Kibbutz Shluchot, also in the Beit Shean Valley, and soon became popular with the local people. About a week after he moved to Shluchot, he was called to compulsory service for a period of thirty months. He was ordered to report for service in February 1981, but according to the recommendation of those in charge, the IDF agreed to postpone his service until July 1981, so that the unmarried immigrant would be able to become a member of the kibbutz. He was recognized as a “lone soldier,” a status that entitles him to visit his family in the United States once a year, and in May 1981 he made a visit that aroused great interest among his friends in the United States who were happy to meet an Israeli combat soldier proud of his Zionist path. Before the end of his vacation, the Peace for Galilee War broke out, and Avi approached the Israeli consulate near his family’s residence. He was told that in principle he could continue to enjoy his vacation because he was not called for service, but as a combat medic he added that his absence would certainly be felt in his company in the front. Avi decided to return to Israel immediately, But he was not satisfied with the service in the rear, and he wanted to be with his friends, and he joined the company as a paramedic and captivated his friends in his religious and national faith. On 15 Av (August 4, 1982), when his company fought in Bourjene, south of Beirut, the unit was bombarded with mortal bombardment. The number of casualties was considerable. Avi was running around among the shells, rescuing another injured casualty, until he was hurt himself. Even when he was mortally wounded, he continued to instruct his fellow soldiers in first aid until he died of his wounds. He was 23 when he died. After his death, Avi was promoted to corporal, he was laid to rest on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. He left behind his parents and brother, and the Minister of Defense, Ariel Sharon, wrote to his mother: “He was older than his comrades in the battalion. The battalion commander stood out in his personality and his actions.” The commander of his battalion wrote to his mother “If there is an expression of Zionism in all its strength and intensity, it is embodied in your son, who fell as a hero in Operation Peace for the Galilee. A new soldier, alone in his country, came and stood in the inferno with courage. Is there any more? From where are these mental powers? Fear of heaven, fear of the earth, sense of mission and promise, His spiritual path, Zionist and national, led him to sacrifice his life for this purpose. All this, in addition to the ties of friendship he had created with the fighters of his company, led him to perform rare heroic acts in particular. As a combat medic, he evacuated a wounded man and another wounded man, until he collapsed under him. The deeds of the heroism of your loved one will be discussed a lot and in their light will grow a generation that will be ready to build a good and blessed land. Avi Grogan fell as a hero in Israel.”