Patman, Daniel (“Danny”)

Son of Haim and Rebecca. Born in Tel Aviv on June 1, 1949, he grew up in Be’er Sheva and studied at Masada Elementary School and was a diligent and talented student, He was not a man of spirit and theory, he did not deal with lofty ideals, but he was always practical, he had a vibrant personality and the energy he was living in found many activities. A teacher in the 11th grade in high school says that he was the conscience of the class and would do his work responsibly and quietly. In the course of an argument, his sense of humor was expressed in quiet, relevant remarks that would give the conversation a pleasant and sociable character. He knew how to fight for his opinions and was Simcha to convince his interlocutor of his righteousness. In addition to his love for sport (basketball and volleyball), he liked to play the violin. He also liked photography and was involved in collecting stamps. Danny loved the family very much and appreciated his parents’ hard work – as the note he attached to Shai prepared for his mother’s day will show: “Mother, I wish we could return something to you for all the work you do for us.” He was frank and honest in all his ways and demanded such treatment from his friends as well. During the Six-Day War, Danny worked extensively in the city hospital, transporting wounded soldiers from the helicopters to the emergency room. During this period he was especially impressed by the atmosphere in the city. Danny was drafted into the IDF at the end of July 1967 and assigned to the Armored Corps, where he received military service as unavoidable and should be done.Although he pondered everything involved in the humanitarian field of the fighting, He took a course in NCOs in the Armored Corps and then was sent to an officer’s course. He was a loyal and loving friend of his friends and was always eager to do what he could for them. Danny did not aspire to a military career, but he knew how to do his job with honors, and was therefore respected by both his commanders and subordinates. All the time he had been in the Canal, there was a sense of danger in him. On the 28th of Kislev 5711 (28.11.1969), he died of wounds sustained a week earlier in enemy shelling. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Be’er Sheva. After his fall he was promoted to lieutenant. The commander of his unit wrote in a letter of condolence to his family: “Danny was one of the outstanding young commanders who got up in the IDF during the fateful period that is now going on in Israel. His proud and confident image was and will be an example of a generation of commanders and soldiers educated on the tradition of fighters, on signs and wonders passed from generation to generation, since the days of Bar Kokhba. Stubborn and consistent in carrying out his mission was Danny and when he and his men were injured helped to rescue them, continued to give instructions to his unit – a symbol and an example of an officer in the IDF. A few months after he fell, a “commendation” was given to Lieutenant Daniel Patman “for the discovery of insanity, resourcefulness and composure under enemy fire.” “In November 1969, in the Suez Canal area, Lieutenant Daniel’s tank was hit by enemy fire and began to go up in flames. At the command of Lieutenant Daniel, the burning tank members abandoned him and began to move away from him. Outside the tank they realized that the gunman was missing. Lieutenant Daniel, despite his severe burns, returned immediately to the burning tank despite the danger of the tank exploding at any moment, climbed the turret, threaded himself into the burning tank and pulled the gunner out of it. A few minutes later, the tank exploded. Despite the constant shelling of the enemy, Lieutenant Daniel arranged the evacuation of the wounded with resourcefulness and cold-bloodedness. Lieutenant Daniel died of his wounds a week after the incident. “In the journal of the Be’er Sheva Comprehensive High School, Afikim in the Negev (March 1970), several pages are devoted to his memory,(July 1970), an article was printed on it; He was also given a special section in the book “Remember and Remind” – a hand for graduates of the high school where he studied – who fell in the defense of the homeland.