Ritman, Dorian

The son of Sarah (Stella) and Israel, was born on August 15, 1928 in the city of Galatz, Romania, and on 19.10.1934 immigrated with his parents to Eretz Israel. Dorian grew up in Herzliya, completed seven classes at the Balfour Gymnasium and at the same time helped his parents’ agriculture. From the age of 13 he was already a member of the Haganah and served in 1946 (1946) in the quarries of Migdal Tzedek near Petah Tikva. In the national sports competition of the Notrim he received a first prize in a 1000 meter run. Upon his first call he joined the army, served in the Alexandroni Brigade and fought in the War of Independence. Although he was very attached to his parents, he saw volunteerism and readiness for self-sacrifice as a supreme value before them. In a special letter to his commander, demanding that the special rights of single children and their parents be annulled, he vigorously condemned the requests for such rights and regarded this as a clear exile practice. He rejected any discrimination in his favor and insisted on his right to risk like any other soldier. He was a quiet, modest fighter. In his unit he served as a departmental runner, advisor and assistant to the platoon commander in combat. His commanders, who insisted on his qualities, had assigned him to the officer. On July 15, 1948, in the evening, his company replaced another company from the brigade in the posts east of Kula and had not yet managed to prepare and dig in properly. On the morning of July 16, 1948, Legion forces attacked the fort with artillery and armored vehicles, swept the department posts at the front post and forced the company to withdraw. In this battle fell. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Netanya.