Hoz, Yosef (Yoske)

Son of Rivka and Avraham, was born on the 25th of Iyar, May 19, 1925 in Tel Aviv and acquired a high school and professional education. Yosef worked as a mechanic. After his army service, he joined the Hagana’s youth battalions in Tel Aviv. From the Gadna he moved to Hayash. With the establishment of his regiment, in 1940, he specialized in the machine gun. Yosef participated in the Givati ​​Brigade, and also volunteered in the Negev for a month. In February 1948, he completed a course for sergeants in Sarona and was appointed sergeant in the battalion’s auxiliary company. In April 1948, Yosef took part in the conquest of the village of Deir Muhsin and he also provided ammunition for all ten machine guns on the spot. On the afternoon of 26 Adar II (6.4.1948) the Arab counterattack against the battalion in Deir Muhsin, increased. One of the machine guns had been disabled. Yosef grabbed his spare machine gun and ran to the place, using the machine gun, and with his help succeeded in breaking the enemy’s attack. When he tried to return to his place, he was hit in the head by a sniper bullet and died on the spot. The next day Yosef was buried at a military ceremony in Hulda. His character is reflected in the words of one of his close friends: “Quiet and humble in his private life and stormy in his military life.” On the 8th of Cheshvan 5710 (19.10.1950) he was laid to rest at the Nachlat Yitzhak military cemetery.