Yekutieli, Uziel (‘Uzi’)
Son of Amnon and Aliza. He was born on April 24, 1957, in Tel Aviv. At the age of two, the family moved from Tel Aviv to Eilat, where Uzi passed through his childhood and youth, and his personality was shaped. Uzi called Eilat with all his soul and his definition, later on: “I am Ilai, and remain my mother, because I am with me in blood.” Uzi studied at the Arava Elementary School and completed his studies at the Goldwater High School – both in Eilat Uzi was one of the best students in the school, loved by his teachers and friends, is active in the student company, and contributes his talents and energies to all the activities in Beit- He was a member of the Scouts movement and was a member of the “Hapoel” sailing club in Eilat and was one of the best in the Gadna shooting club. In addition, he was a gifted athlete and engaged in marches, light athletics and various ball games. As an entertainer in the group, he was a member of the youth club in Eilat, but when he saw that his participation in the band harmed his real studies, he gave up without hesitation to the band. Uzi stood out among his friends, who followed him, being the living spirit at all parties and plays. Uziel was drafted into the IDF at the end of July 1975. At first he wanted to volunteer for an elite unit, and when he was not accepted, he decided to follow his father’s footsteps and volunteered for the paratroopers to the battalion where his father served. He was promoted to the details, and Uzi was supposed to take an officer’s course, immediately after completing the course. Instead of preparing for the officers’ course, he decided to leave as a squad commander of paratroopers. Uzi invested much of his energy in forming his soldiers into a good fighting unit. He planted on them his knowledge and became very attached to his apprentices. On May 10, 1977, Uzi fell while carrying out a helicopter crash in the Jordan Valley. In this disaster, 54 soldiers were killed. He was brought to rest in the military cemetery in Kiryat Shaul. He was survived by his parents and two sisters, Rachel and Osnat. His family and friends took out a memorial booklet bearing his name.
