Page 46 - HaMizrachi #29 Yom HaAtzmaut 2021 USA

Yaakov’s determination and refusal to The next morning the Syrian tanks Yossi could not sit there while his men
back down became a symbol of the began bombarding Post 116. The sol- were fighting for their lives.
IDF’s fighting spirit. Through their cou- diers stood their ground, and began He climbed up and saw the entire valley
rageous actions, Yaakov’s team helped firing at the tanks. One by one, the smoking, realizing the battle was right
pave the way for Israel to liberate the Syrian tanks went up in flames. here on his doorstep. He thought it
Golan Heights. Still, three of them managed to reach would take weeks for the IDF to send
the post. them supplies but just then, he spotted a
jeep driving into the camp. As an Israeli
The first rolled into the gate and straight soldier took aim, he yelled, “It’s ours!”
over a mine; Yossi watched the white
powder spill onto the basalt stones Both Yossi and Tzion received awards
but it failed to explode and the Syrians for their bravery. Because of their cour-
The Military Post That Held advanced. age and refusal to back down, the small
Back the Syrian Army Soon Syrian soldiers were jumping out military Post 116 of a handful of soldiers
managed to delay the Syrian army from
and the cry could be heard, “Syrians in
October 1973. advancing into Israel before backup
the post!” troops arrived.
On Friday morning, October 6th, Erev
Yom Kippur, Second Lieutenant Yossi Tzion threw a grenade into the Syrian
Gur took charge of Military Post 116 tank as his men attacked the enemy sol-
in the southern Golan, replacing the diers and managed to clear the post of
reserve officer who had gone home that enemy infiltrators.
morning. Yossi had no idea he would They did not yet understand they were
soon be leading Israel’s defense in the at war. The Heroic Medic
Yom Kippur War.
On Sunday at 10 am, 116 received the January 8th 2009.
That night, Tzion Ezer, a soldier on message that Israel was at war.
guard, heard noises. He climbed to the Operation Cast Lead.
lookout point and saw what seemed like Five Syrian tanks approached the post. On the morning of January 8th, medic
the entire Syrian Army approaching Yossi felt shrapnel as bullets exploded Menachem Tzik was in Gaza with his
them in tanks. around him. He aimed, and hit the first platoon. His deputy commander ordered
Syrian tank. He aimed again, and hit
the second. The tanks didn’t explode, him to stay behind, as others began to
but Yossi managed to stop them. Three purge the area.
remaining tanks were advancing as the Suddenly, rockets hit the building the
firing continued. soldiers had entered.

Yossi was hit in the arm and appointed “Medic! Medic!”
Tzion to take charge. The Syrians, seeing Menachem rushed into enemy territory,
two of their tanks had been stopped, straight into enemy fire.
began to retreat.
“Get down!” his deputy commander
The following morning, the Syrians yelled.
attacked Post 116 again. Tzion heard
yelling in Arabic and knew the enemy Menachem had no time to get down. He
was right there, in the post. Yossi and had lives to save.
two other injured soldiers ran to the Realizing he would run faster without it,
bunker, as their comrades once again he dropped his weapon and ran through
cleared the post of Syrian soldiers. But the bullets whizzing millimeters from

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