Shafir, Dov

Dov, son of Rivka-Fania and Haim, was born in Tel Aviv on March 22, 1947. He studied in elementary schools in Tel Aviv and, due to his excellence in mathematics, decided to continue his studies in a vocational school. He was admitted to the Ort Yad-Singalovski High School, where he studied for five years in the electronic track, and was a member of the Hashomer Hatzair movement. He was fond of the sea, knew how to swim, and knew how to dive in. Dov was drafted into the IDF in early February 1967. Since before his enlistment, Was placed after basic training for the flight school. As part of the school he participated in the Six Day War and at the end of the war he was awarded the “Six Day War”. He completed a parachuting course and an aviation course and was awarded “flying wings.” He later became an instructor and was sent to a flight instructor course, and was later placed as a pilot at the flying school. His commanders appreciated him very much and expressed his opinion of him as “a very good flight instructor and pilot, an entrepreneur, a very good officer,” “commander, instructor and excellent pilot.” After a while, Dov was appointed commander of a course and in this position he succeeded very well, and was said to be “liked by students and counselors, solving problems in a mature way.” When his time came to be released, he considered whether to leave the army and continue his studies at the Technion. The release certificate that was already issued to him indicated that his behavior was very good and that he fulfilled his duties well and efficiently and was professionally versed. Finally he decided to continue serving in the career army. When the Yom Kippur War broke out, Dov returned to operational activity and fought on both fronts – on the Egyptian front and on the Syrian front. In his assessment of his actions in the war, he stated that he “fought in the most effective manner, while showing courage and devotion to the mission.” On October 9, 1973, when he returned from an attack on headquarters in Damascus, Captain Dov fell as a pilot in the Golan Heights. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Kiryat Shaul. Survived by his parents, sister and brother. To commemorate his memory, the Jewish National Fund planted a grove in his name, “Horesh Dov”, near Modi’in.