Kossovsky, Ozer (Uzi)

The only son of Zippora and Mordecai was born on April 13, 1925 in the city of Halberstadt, Germany. In 1933, when the Nazis came to power in Germany, the family immigrated to Israel and settled in Rishon Letzion. After graduating from elementary school, he worked as a mechanical shutter. As a member of the “Young Maccabee” he was active in light athletics, hockey, soccer, basketball, etc., and found time to engage in music. He was active in the Haganah, underwent basic training and participated in its activities, such as blowing up bridges during the period of the revolt. He did everything simply and modestly, secretly, with precision and calmness and coolness. Immediately after the UN General Assembly decided on 29 November 1947 to partition the country and start the War of Independence, he served in the Givati ​​Brigade as a machine gunner and did everything thoroughly and devotedly. During the winter of 1948 he took part in securing the road from Rishon LeZion to Tel Aviv, Many battle in this environment. During Operation Hametz to encircle Jaffa, his battalion attacked and occupied Tel A-Rish, but was forced to withdraw under the pressure of an Arab counterattack. A Haifa helper with a “Baran” machine gun in his hand, from his position in the vineyard in Mikvah Israel, and the withdrawal of his comrades from the mound. An enemy bullet hit his machine gun and fired part of it, and when his friends asked him to go with them to the armored vehicle, he told them to go without him, because he had to look for the lost part. Another bullet hit him himself, and he fell on April 28, 1948, on the day he turned 23. He was laid to rest at the military cemetery in Rishon Letzion.