Shachak (Machnik), Eli

Son of Sarah and Mordechai, was born on 24 May 1948 in Germany and immigrated to Israel with his family in 1949. Eli studied at an elementary school in Hatzor and spent one year at the naval officers’ academy in Acre, two years at Kibbutz Dalia and Shana He completed his studies in Kibbutz Merhavia, and completed his studies in the external track at the Mishlav School, where he was drafted into the IDF at the end of September 1966. After completing a course in infantry, he served in the Armored Corps. Eli was assigned a paratroop course and a course for infantry officers. When his time came to disengage from regular service, he accepted the pleas of his commanders and continued his career. He completed a course for company commanders and served in the Training Command Headquarters, the Dan District Headquarters, and the Southern Command Command. He was the deputy commander of the tracker unit, served in the Gaza Strip command and his last position was the commander of the Rafah district. Along with his career, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. His commanders lavished much praise on him in their opinions: “Excellent work … responsible, devoted and reliable … very devoted, enterprising and willing to make progress, very decent in his attitude toward his soldiers and the staff of his subordinates.” On the 12th of Tammuz, 5741 (14.7.1981), Lieutenant Colonel Eli fell in the line of duty and was brought to rest at the military cemetery in Kiryat Shaul. Left parent and daughter. In a letter of condolence to the family, the prime minister and defense minister said that Eli “was a courageous fighter who was fearless and admired and loved.” His commander wrote: “I had the privilege of working with Lt. Col. Eli Shahak in recent years, during which time I learned to meet the commander, warrior and apprentice of the commander, who was educated in the light of the concept after me. Eli the fighter – took part in the Six-Day War, the War of Attrition, the Yom Kippur War, and the long and uncompromising war against the terrorist activity of the enemy in the Gaza Strip … The friend and cheer – who was willing to help his fighting friends and children at all times …Eli always carried out his tasks with great devotion and devotion and fell for the sake of Israel’s security. “