Vidman, Meir-Shlomo
Son of Tova and Shmuel, was born on April 30, 1948, in a detention camp on Cyprus for illegal immigrants to Palestine. His parents, Holocaust survivors, immigrated to Israel aboard an illegal immigrant ship, were captured by the British and arrested in a camp in Cyprus. They lived in Herzliya, where he studied, first in the Brenner elementary school, and later in the Ort vocational school in Kfar Saba. At school, Shlomo stood out as a cheerful, sensitive and loving young man. In 1966, he enlisted in the Paratroopers Brigade. He completed his regular service until he was discharged in September 1969. Shlomo completed several courses, including parachuting and maintenance. In December 1967 he rose to the rank of corporal, and a few months later, before he was released, rose to the rank of sergeant. Solomon also been preparing an officers’ course. During the Six Day War, he fought in the paratroopers force. After his discharge he worked full-time as a maintenance supervisor. He married and his only daughter was born, but Shlomo wanted to return to regular army service, where he served in the army, and in various periods he served in reserve duty. He took an officer’s course and was assigned to the Maintenance Corps with the rank of lieutenant. Because of an injury to his back, his medical profile was lowered, and he moved to serve as a rearguard in the Armored Corps. In November 1981 Shlomo rose to the rank of captain. Meir-Shlomo was decorated with the Six-Day War Medal and the Yom Kippur War Medal. When the Peace for Galilee War broke out, he again came up with the fighting force to Lebanon. On the 2nd of Nissan 5743 (16.3.1983) Shlomo was on a mission to assist the units of the formation, 5 kilometers east of Beirut. He stepped on a mine and was killed. He was 35 years old when he died. He was laid to rest at the military cemetery in Kiryat Shaul in Tel Aviv. He left behind a wife, daughter, parents and sister. Defense Minister Moshe Arens wrote to his family: “Shlomo was an excellent fighter, an excellent commander and an exemplary friend”.
