Katz, Leon (Arie)

Leon, son of Kazimira and Edmond, was born on September 25, 1952 in Lignitz, Poland, and immigrated to Israel with his family in 1957. Leon was drafted into the IDF in early August 1971 and volunteered for the paratroopers. After completing his basic training, he took a parachuting course, a course for squadrons and a course of mortar rounds. In the end he was placed in a training base in the position of sergeant-sergeant and was awarded the rank of corporal. He was a devoted friend and an excellent and knowledgeable soldier. A friend of mine wrote about him: “He fit in well and when they were looking for a serious person, to be responsible for our important room, Aryeh was chosen for this role.” He participated in various activities of his unit and especially returned full-impressions from the raid to Lebanon in 1972. During the Yom Kippur War, Leon participated in the braking battles against the Egyptians on the Sinai front. In the battle that took place on October 15, 1973, in the Mitla district, he fought as a MEG operator. In a clash with an Egyptian armored and infantry force, “Leon fired like a madman in the enemy, who threatened to wash us, and I had to wake him up to take off his head.” During the battle, Leon was hit and died the next day. was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Haifa, he left behind his parents and brother, and was promoted to the rank of sergeant.