Yam, Yaakov (Yaki)

Yaakov (Yaki), son of Malka (Emilia) and Yechezkel Yam was born on May 22, 1928, in Leipzig, Germany. When he was seven, his family immigrated to Israel. When the War of Independence broke out, Yaakov enlisted in the Palmach’s Harel Brigade. From Hulda, his first stop, he moved to Jerusalem. He completed a sabotage course and worked there. On the night of June 8-9, 1948, he went with his battalion to the “Yoram” operation – the third attack on Latrun. Because of a mistake in navigating, the battalion was on the 14th deck, instead of the thirteenth position as planned. The fighters attacked the outpost and succeeded in capturing part of it, and during the fierce battle many of them were injured. The enemy’s resistance was fierce, and due to the casualties, there was no power to complete the conquest of the outpost and an order was given to withdraw. Yaakov was seriously injured in the leg and died on his way to the hospital on 2 Sivan, June 9, 1948. He was buried in Sheik Badar and on September 10, 1950 was transferred to the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.