Zeira, Dedi (Oded)

Son of Nira and Yaakov, he was born on April 11, 1960 in Haifa, where he studied at the “Tel Hai” elementary school and at Ironi G. In September 1978, Dedi joined the IDF and served in a parachute Nahal unit. In 1980, Dedi was sent by the core group for a training year at the Neve Magen camp of the “Mahanot Ha’olim.” After completing his training year in the movement, he went to an officers’ course, graduated in July 1981, and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Dedi volunteered for the first half of the year as a cadet’s instructor in the officers ‘school, and later commanded the recruits’ division in Camp 80. When he completed his regular service, Dedi volunteered to serve in the regular army, starting in September 1981. He commanded a parachute patrol unit. His commanding officer said that “he is a very good officer with many ideas for improvement. He achieved good achievements with his soldiers.” On 7 Av, July 26, 1982, Dedi commanded his unit in a heavy vehicle navigation exercise held in the Jenin governorate, as part of a training program for immigration to Lebanon. The vehicle in which he rode had mistakenly driven into a minefield left by the Jordanians from the Six-Day War and it boarded a mine. Three soldiers were killed in the explosion, among them Dedi. He was 22 years old when he died. Dedi was laid to rest at the military cemetery in Haifa. After he fell, he was promoted to lieutenant. He left behind his parents and two brothers.