Raanan, Mordechai

Son of Zvi and Yael. He was born on August 21, 1954, in England. He immigrated to Israel with his family in 1954 and settled in Kibbutz Beit HaEmek in the Galilee, where he studied at the Harel High School in Haifa, where he studied violin and was nominated for a prize by the Sharett Foundation. Mordechai was drafted into the IDF at the end of October 1972. He was transferred to the Flight School thanks to his abilities and skills. He was successful in all stages of the courses and was qualified as a combat pilot. During his activity in the air force he was a navigating officer. During his service, he underwent a parachuting course. Together with his comrades, he took part in stopping the waves of attackers, the Egyptians and the Syrians. During the Yom Kippur War. On the 12th of Adar 5737 (March 2, 1977) Mordechai fell in the line of duty. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. Survived by a wife, parents and three brothers. In a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, his commander wrote: “I learned to recognize Ra’anan, to cherish him and praise him for his diligence and devotion to his friends and unit … I knew that he would do everything he had to do …”