Rusk, Yiftach (“Yify”)

Son of Menachem and Hannah. He was born in Kibbutz Na’an on June 4, 1943. He studied at the kibbutz school and completed his studies there, was active in training and organization in the kibbutz division and devoted himself to the land work, worked in the orchard and was interested in history and social relations. He was recruited in October 9161 and was in the Golani reconnaissance unit. He took part in the battle for the Syrian post of Nukayev, where he fought for the first time with the enemy face to face. He completed an officers’ course with honors and later an officers training course, and continued to serve in one of the Golani Brigade. While driving a patrol on the patrol road in northern Israel, the half-track mounted a mine and its soldiers were severely wounded, but Yiftach sustained a light wound to the head and after his recovery he returned to the unit. On May 1, 1967, called to reserve duty as part of the mobilization and preparation for the Six-Day War, and the next day his unit was deployed in a defense line in the Nitzana area. It was a hard day and in the afternoon Yiftah was hit by a blow from the village of Maktesh Shemesh, and a few hours later he was evacuated by helicopter to the beach And died three days later, on the day he fought for his life, died on 24 May 1967. He was laid to rest in the cemetery in his kibbutz, and placed a wife and child in the book “Five Sons” By Kibbutz Naan, dedicated to the first section of his memory.