Keehan, Oren

Son of Sarah and Isaac. He was born on 17.1.1978 in Kibbutz Nachshonim, the younger brother of Rotem and Einav, and later a big brother to Shahaf and Amir. Oren was a handsome boy, whose smile conquered and melted the hearts of those around him. As a child he was very naughty and no one could resist his charm. In the family Oren was a great brother to his brothers and sisters, and each of them had a different “speech”. His family saw him as the mainstay of the family. One of his most conspicuous features was the ability to listen and was therefore the favorite of the girls in their youth and their confidant. In his youth he began playing basketball. After eight years of training in Maccabi Petach Tikva, he was one of the team members and went out with her to play abroad. Prior to his induction, Oren expressed his desire to reach the commando unit and be “the most combatable possible.” His dream was to be a fighter and serve in Lebanon, but the long years of basketball games hit his legs and as a result did not meet the requirements. He decided to postpone his enlistment a year and leave for a year of service within the Hashomer Hatzair movement. He trained a group of young people in Ashdod and hoped to work with new immigrants, but for technical reasons the movement’s activity stopped and Oren returned to the induction center and asked to be early in his enlistment. In late March 1997, Oren joined the Golani Brigade. On the 14th of Elul 5757 (14.9.1997) Oren drowned while he tried to cross the swimming pool with the weapon in his hand and a stretcher on his back. He was buried at the cemetery in his kibbutz, Nachshonim, and was survived by his parents, three sisters and a brother, and after his death he was promoted to the rank of corporal. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, Chief of Staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak wrote: “Oren was described by his commanders as a dedicated soldier with a high personal level who was one of the pillars of the company and who displayed great motivation for military service.” Oren’s commander noted in his letter to the family that “the Golani Brigade lost a soldier with a high ability to be a commander and an excellent officer.” Oren’s family established in his memory a sports field and a playground for children.