Kerman, Mordechai (Motke, Mottele)

Son of Menucha and Yosef, was born in 1929 in Haifa to a family of workers. He studied 6 classes at the Reali School and completed a vocational school. When he was 15, he joined the “Bnei Akiva” and the Haganah and spent many nights guarding various positions and missions. With the outbreak of the War of Independence – he was 19 years old – he was among the first members of the “Carmeli” brigade who left for positions. Out of a desire to help his friends in battle, he chose to be a paramedic. His sister told of his return from the battle at Ramat Yochanan. He arrived home exhausted and told us that 15 members, including the commander, were wounded in the battle and he was wearing everyone’s wounds. At the end of the battle, he told her, there were a few fighters left with little ammunition until they decided to leave a bullet for each, so as not to fall into enemy hands. At the last moment reinforcements arrived and rescued them from the straits. Three days after this battle, on April 22, 1948, he fought in the battle for the liberation of Haifa, where he fell on his way to rescue a friend who had been wounded on Stanton Street. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Haifa.