Shemesh, Avinoam

Avinoam, son of Rachel and Joseph, was born in Kfar Saba on August 27, 1953. He completed his elementary studies at the Ussishkin School in Kfar Saba, and completed his high school studies in Tel Aviv at the Gymnasium Herzliya and in the military boarding school. Avinoam was a cheerful boy with great confidence in everything he did. He had been the conductor of the organizational arrangements since the first trips to the school, and when the class had published a pamphlet he was one of its editors. At parties, the living spirit, and in good deeds, surpassed everyone with his tricks and his rolling laugh. But he also knew how to be serious, and he had clear ideas about his future. He used to analyze his chances and limitations with full reason and judgment, and he was able to draw conclusions and act accordingly. After completing his elementary studies, he enrolled in the military boarding school next to the Gymnasia Herzliya, with great enthusiasm, and with an inner sense that he could realize the potential of his dynamic personality and express his initiative and leadership. Determined to go to the boarding school, he grew up with common sense about the difficulties and obstacles that stood in his way. He successfully completed four years of schooling and apprenticeship that cooked his body and spirit. His honesty and integrity, and especially his love for others – qualities that characterized him from his childhood and were nurtured by his warm and sympathetic home – helped him in his relations with his classmates, and even facilitated him as a commander. At the graduation ceremony, after four years of study, Avinoam was chosen to read the class before the teachers and parents present at the ceremony. Avinoam distributed his four-month vacation, which he received until the beginning of his military service, between strenuous work in a building in Sodom, where he had bad relations with the Druze who worked with him, and trips around the country. Avinoam was drafted into the IDF at the beginning of November 1971. After completing basic training, he underwent tests for an aviation course and hoped to dedicate his years of service to the air force, although he did not plan on starting. And was sent to an officers’ training course for armored corps officers, and was assigned to a unit of the Armored Corps, and was highly respected in everything he did, and he gained friends and friends with many friends. Commanders and officers admired him for his many virtues and for his human attitude to every man He spent most of his vacations from the army at home, sitting with his family and many conversations, full of humor and seriousness, and sometimes went on visits, tours and funerals to “do as much as possible,” as he did. Who was used to saying that during the Yom Kippur War, Avinoam was a regular army officer and was called to command a unit on the Golan Heights in the Harmonic area near Kuneitra, after the company commander was wounded in the battle that took place on the 11th of Tishrei 5710 1973. His tank was hit directly and he was killed. He was brought to eternal rest in the cemetery on Mount Herzl. Survived by his parents and sister. After his fall, he was promoted to lieutenant and awarded the “Medal of Honor”. The certificate states: “Second Lieutenant Avinoam Shemesh was a tank commander who participated in the battles in the Golan Heights. On October 7, 1973, the company moved to the south entrance of Kuneitra. At the main junction in the city, the company commander was hit in the head, and Second Lieutenant Avinoam Shemesh z “l got out of his tank, ran to the company commander’s tank, bandaged it, briefed the crew, led them coolly and removed them from the danger zoneAnd all this under heavy artillery fire and accurate. Second Lieutenant Avinoam Shemesh fell on the same afternoon in the Hermonit sector when he blocked the attacking Syrians. In his actions he showed exemplary composure and courage. “