Kotler, Menachem
Menachem, son of Tamar and Yosef, was born on January 14, 1944 in Tel Aviv. Menachem was drafted into the IDF at the end of July 1961, and as a graduate of a vocational school, he was assigned to the air force, although he wanted to serve in the Nahal paramilitary brigade and leave the Erez farm. After basic training, he completed a ground equipment technician course at the IAF Technical School and was stationed at the wing headquarters where he did his regular service. His discharge certificate indicated that he had good professional knowledge, punctual, disciplined and devoted to his work. After completing his regular service, he was assigned to reserve duty as a ground equipment technician at an air force base. After a while he was transferred to the Armored Corps, took part in an Armored Corps course and was assigned as an Armored Corps in the battalion, during which he participated in the Six-Day War. After returning to civilian life, he worked for a while at Solel Boneh and later moved to work as a maintenance mechanic at Mekorot. He worked at the water line in the south and did throughout Sinai. At the end of June 1967, immediately after the Six Day War, he married a wife and lived with her in Bat Yam. After a while the family moved to Rishon Letzion. Eventually a couple had a son and a daughter. Menahem was a good and devoted husband and a loving father to his children. While working, Menachem continued his studies at an ORT evening school for technicians and practical engineers in Tel Aviv. Since he was not given a vacation leave for exams, he moved to work as a maintenance technician at Delek. Over time he was transferred to a permanent job in pneumatic equipment and recently worked as a technician in the company’s technical department. Menachem continued to study in the evenings all the time, making great efforts to do so, and studied diligently and thoroughly. According to his manager at work, he worked slowly, but thoroughly, steadily, honestly and devotedly, while dealing with difficult problems. Menahem managed to complete his project to obtain a qualified technician degree, but the project was approved and his degree was awarded only after he fell. When the Yom Kippur War broke out, Menachem was called to his unit and sent to Sinai. Until he received the order, he cleaned the shelter in his home and then went home with good spirits. He participated in the battles and, according to his commander, had a responsible relationship and was admired by all his friends and commanders alike. On the 15th of Tishrei 5740 (October 15, 1973), during the battle for the breakthrough to the besieged fortress “Budapest”, in the northern sector of the Suez Canal, the half-trackMenachem served to help a unit encountered an enemy ambush, and while he was delivering messages to units in the field, he was hit by a sniper’s bullet in the neck and killed. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Kiryat Shaul. Survived by a wife, son and daughter, parents, brother and sister. After his fall, he was promoted to sergeant.
