Kovetz, Reuven

Reuven Kovetz was born in 1951 to Mira and Iwo Kovetz, one of the founders of Kibbutz Gat, where he grew up and was educated until his enlistment. At the age of 23 he married Simi and they had three children: Inbal, Roni and Yonatan. Reuven lived with his family in Moshav Emunim and became one of the pillars of the extended family. His mother Mira and his father Ivo, a great musician and educator, immigrated to Israel from Yugoslavia a few years after World War II, where they fought as partisans in the forests. They raised Reuven and his sister, Efrat, while educating them about values ​​and love of the land. The childhood and youth were spent on the joint education and education of the regional school, with many varied experiences and education for partnership, responsibility and values ​​that were part of the formulation and design of his personality. After graduating from high school Reuven enlisted in the Air Force for a pilot course, and after leaving the course he moved to serve as a loading controller for transport aircraft at Unit 277 in Unit 757. Later he decided to sign a permanent position and served as a loading supervisor and later as commander of the cargo terminal until his release at the age of 53 During those years when Reuven served the country, he participated in the wars of Israel and in various operations – some of them unknown … including Operation Entebbe, the operations of Ethiopian Jews, and rescue operations around the world. , Caring and giving without limit, and for this he received exceptional esteem from his commanders and his comrades in the unit, Where he was considered one of the founders of the unit’s heritage and was even called “the father of the unit.” One of his commanders wrote: “You were a guide and friend, you left us a huge inheritance, a heritage that beats in all of us. We will remember you as someone who was not a difficult task for him, as a knight who fights for his beliefs, as a commander who takes responsibility for everyone, as a professional supervisor, a caring and devoted man who never gives up. “After his discharge from the army, Reuven decided to volunteer for the Southern Traffic Police During the shift on February 15, 2007, after the arrest of a traffic criminal, Reuven felt sick and died of cardiac arrest, and Reuven’s death stunned the pain and sorrow that accompanied the family and friends to this day. Which are in the possession of the Unit for the Commemoration of the Soldier The full story of life will be published later.) (This page is part of the commemoration project State “Yizkor”, held by the Ministry of Defense)