Ovida, Yosef

Yosef (Yossi), son of Chaya and Feivel, was born on March 16, 1952, in Haifa. He studied at the Remez Elementary School in Haifa, and then graduated from the School of Practical Engineers and Technicians in the Technion, Haifa, in the field of technical, graphic and planning. In January 1972 he was awarded the title “Metallurgical Technician”. He was a diligent student. Yosef was drafted into the IDF in early February 1972 and was assigned to the Armored Corps. After completing his basic training, he was sent to a course for tank commanders and finished with a high grade (86). During the Yom Kippur War, Yosef took part in the braking battles on the Sinai front. On the night of the 11th of Tishrei 5740 (7.10.1973) Yosef’s unit fought on the embankment north of Maoz “Mifrek” in the region of Qantara, in the north of the island of El-Balah. At midnight his tank was stuck by the embankment, just in front of the breach, where the Egyptian armor and infantry were supposed to cross there, and although the tank could no longer move, the crew decided to stay inside and continue to fight. Including Yosef, who destroyed a tank and a tractor, and his tank was hit by a direct hit and Yosef was killed, and later found dead in the Egyptian-occupied area and then brought to rest in the Haifa cemetery.