Heimlich, Ilan

Son of Miriam and Dan, was born on February 27, 1955 in Kibbutz Gesher in the Jordan Valley. His parents immigrated from Romania on an illegal immigration ship, after the Second World War. They were interned in a detention camp in Cyprus and were released after the establishment of the state. Ilan attended the Gesher Elementary School and the Beit Yerah High School. Ilan played basketball at the Gesher-Neve-Or group, where he loved fieldwork, and during the Yom Kippur War, when the men were recruited to the front, the agriculture filled every role assigned to him in September 1974. Ilan joined the Israel Air Force and was transferred to the Golani Brigade four months later, and Ilan completed his basic training course and was assigned to the Golani Brigade, and in October 1975 he was promoted to the rank of corporal. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel, and when he was about to be released from the IDF, the commander of his brigade asked him to continue “The opinion of his commander in 1977 was:” Ilan is an officer with potential, very intelligent, interested in what is happening around him, insists on his opinion. Points to deficiencies, and tries very hard to fulfill his role. He is responsible and dedicated, convenient for teamwork. A decent honest guy. Very polite. “After the kibbutz secretariat signed its agreement to continue serving in the IDF, Ilan received command of a company and rose to the rank of lieutenant. He took part in Operation Litani in 1977. Ilan was discharged from the IDF in 1979. He returned to the kibbutz for half a year, then went on a tour of the United States, and spent a year and a half abroad. In 1981, Ilan returned to the bridge and began working in the kibbutz plaster factory. When the Peace for Galilee war broke out, Ilan was called to the front to replace the commander of a company that was hit. He joined the Golani force and led his company in battle. On Saturday night, 21 June 1982, he fought in the village of Sil, on the outskirts of Beirut. The enemy opened fire. Ilan was hit by shrapnel and killed. He was 27 years old when he died. After they fell, Ilan was promoted to captain. He was laid to rest at Kibbutz Gesher. He left behind his parents, brother and sister. The family and members of the kibbutz published a booklet in his memory, in which Ilan is depicted as a person and as a fighter.