Pouch, Dmitry

Ben Victoria and Michael. He was born on April 13, 1976 in the city of Vinnitsa, Ukraine. Brother Livgania. Dmitry, or, as he was called, Dima, Dimochka, was energetic and active, loved society and played loud. When the children in the yard were playing war games, he always imagined them. He liked to be with friends and play with them at all, but sometimes he had the will to be alone, to sit still and watch television or read. He loved these experiences to his family, and used to describe with great humor and fantasy the stories he read. From a young age, Dima was gifted with painting. He liked to draw mainly caricatures and his paintings were beautiful and bright. Through the paintings he described his feelings and his mood. He also used to write happy and funny songs, he knew and loved to tell thousands of jokes. Dima was ‘crazy’ about music. “He seemed to know all the bands and stars of modern music and film in the world.” Dima loved animals and showed compassion to them. Thanks to him there were always cats, hamsters, parrots, mice and fish. Water sports were especially popular for Dima, who had a lot of swim and water skiing. Yes a lot to ride a bike. Dima studied for nine years in an elementary school and went on to a technical vocational school where he was trained as a mechanic. At the end of his studies, at age 19, he was drafted into the Soviet army. The service was very difficult – Dima experienced the phenomenon of “salabot” (seniority in matters of power and control, and veteran soldiers abusing new ones), and looked forward to the end of his service. After his discharge from the army, Dima found it difficult to find work, since the Perestroika began in the Soviet Union and an economic crisis developed. In August 1997, the entire family immigrated to Israel and settled in Haifa. Exactly two years after his immigration to Israel in August 1999, Dima enlisted in the Givati ​​Brigade and soon became a soldier in the army, became friendly with many soldiers and received good treatment from his commanders. “Dmitri loved the army and was proud to serve as a combat soldier in the Givati ​​Brigade,” said his commander, Lt. Col. Erez. Dmitri was a soldier with a great sense of humor and a special talent for painting. On one occasion, Dima painted a sergeant on the soldiers’ shirts, which became the department’s symbol. On May 20, 2000, Dimitri fell while serving, and he is twenty-four years old. He was laid to rest at the military cemetery in Haifa. Survived by his parents and sister. “Dmitri was a favorite of his commanders and friends,” wrote his family commander, “and will be remembered for his good heart and for the great smile he always had on his face.” Dmitri was a good example of the success of integration of FSU immigrants in the Israel Defense Forces in general and in combat units in particular. “Everyone who served with Dmitri, all his friends will remember him as a good-hearted, sensitive and happy guy with a sense of humor and a smile on his face.