Magen-Aharon, Homion (Shlomo)

He was born in 1954 in Teheran, Iran, and immigrated to Israel in 1970. He studied in an elementary school in Tehran and after his aliyah began studying at the Hadasim Youth Boarding School in Netanya, The Air Force Technical School in Haifa Homun was an example of Jewish youth in Iran when he decided to leave his parents’ home and immigrate to Israel on his own, despite being greeted with open arms by his family. He was cheerful, sociable, and life-loving: he loved to dance, listen to light music and chants, joke and entertain his friends. He was devoted and loyal to his relatives and friends, and gave them help without demanding any compensation.Homion was drafted into the IDF at the beginning of November 1972 and assigned to the Armored Corps. After basic training, and after completing a tank course in the “Santorion” tank, he was ordained as a Santorion tank driver. Before the Yom Kippur War, Homion asked to visit his family in Iran. He missed them very much and asked for a special leave and indeed he was granted leave and he was going to go to Iran after the holidays. Suddenly the war broke out and he stood up in his unit, without even saying goodbye to his relatives. He participated in the bitter containment battles in the Golan Heights and on the 13th of Tishrei 5734 (9.10.1973) he was wounded in an armor battle near Kuneitra and was killed. He was laid to rest at the Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem. He was survived by a father, a mother, three brothers and a sister. After his fall, he was promoted to corporal. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, his commander wrote: “He was loved by his friends and commanders, and he carried out his duties with great dedication and efficiency.”