Yaakov (Solomon), Roee

Son of Yaffa and Avraham. Was born on September 21, 1982 in Wolfson Hospital in Holon, a younger brother to Ron and Rinat. He grew up in Bat Yam until he was 10 years old and then moved to Kochav Yair. On December 19, 2001, Roee was drafted into the IDF. He arrived at the Kirya and informed his commanders that he intended to be a combat unit member, but at first they did not take his words seriously, but it was hard to ignore Ro’i. After receiving the approval of a private psychologist who examined him and found that he was fit to be a combat soldier (he personally financed the test from his military salary) Roee’s medical profile was raised to 72, and he was offered two service options, the Armored Corps and the artillery. Roee, who desperately wanted to be a combat soldier, rejected these proposals and then began a process of exams, underwent tests of motivation, was confined to 28 days in the Kirya and was sent to the territories for security. He had a choice between infantry battalions. Roy chose to serve in the “Dukifat”. When he reached the unit he was happy to the sky, his dream came true. He loved everyone, led, encouraged, helped and volunteered as much as he could. When he returned home, he told the family how good he was in the Dukifat and how much he loved his friends. Roi used to say: “We are a fighting family.” “Dad, you do not know how much I’m missing the army.” “My friends in the army love me so much, we’re like family.” At the end of the ceremony of wearing the berets, the sergeant “Ashley” went to Roee and put on his personal cap in the presence of all his comrades in the company, as a soldier who excelled in his eyes throughout the route and on the journey itself. After an advanced training session in the Golan Heights, the company continued its route in securing roads in Ofra, especially Route 60. The IDF radio station visited Ofra on the eve of Rosh Hashana, 2004 and interviewed the soldiers who remained at the base. The announcer asked the company’s soldiers to distribute Oscar prizes to their friends by category, and the soldiers chose to give Roee the best-hearted Oscar. The recording of the “Green Wave” program, which was broadcast on Army Radio on Rosh Hashana, commemorated Roee’s voice a few weeks before his fall and became the last memento. On the 19th of Tishrei 5764 (19.10.2003) Sergeant Roee Yaakov Solomon, age twenty-one, with two of his friends, Staff Sergeant Erez Idan and Sergeant Elad Pollak died in an ambush. Roee was laid to rest at the military cemetery in Holon. Survived by his parents, brother and sister. For full memorial, see Hebrew bio.