Medal of Valor (Israel)

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עיטור הגבורה
Medal of Valor
TypeMilitary decoration
Awarded for"Performing a supreme act of valor while facing the enemy and risking one's life"
Presented by Israel Defense Forces
EligibilitySoldiers of the Israel Defense Forces
StatusCurrently awarded
Established1970; 54 years ago (1970)
Last awarded1975
Total recipients40
Precedence
Next (lower)Medal of Courage

The Medal of Valor (Hebrew: עיטור הגבורה,Hebrew pronunciation: [(ʔ)iˈtuʁ (h)agvuˈʁa] Itur HaGvura) is the highest Israeli military decoration.

The medal was established in 1970 by the Knesset in an act of law as a replacement for the Hero of Israel military decoration that was awarded during the 1947-48 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine and the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Awards of the medal were also made for actions prior to 1970, and all recipients of the Hero of Israel automatically received the Medal of Valor as well.

Recipients of the medal receive several privileges such as a tax reduction and invitations to official state ceremonies.

To this day, 40 medals have been awarded: 12 for actions in the War of Independence (Hero of Israel recipients automatically received the Medal of Valor), four for the Sinai War, 12 for the Six-Day War, one for the War of Attrition, eight for the Yom Kippur War, and three others for actions during specific operations.

Design[edit]

The medal was designed by Dan Reisinger in the shape of a Star of David. A sword and olive branch decorate the left side, while the reverse is plain. The medal is attached to a yellow ribbon, a reference to the yellow star that Jews were forced to wear during the Holocaust. Two time recipients of the medal attach a small medal-shaped clasp to the ribbon.

The medal is minted by the Israel Government Coins and Medals Corporation. It is made of 25 gram silver/935 and the clasp is chrome plated.

Recipients[edit]

Name Rank Conflict Place of action Date of action Reason for receiving medal
Yair Racheli[1] Private War of Independence Near Shefa-'Amr 19 January 1948 Destroyed an enemy position
Emmanuel Landau[1] Private Kiryat Motzkin 17 March 1948 Captured an enemy supply truck
Avraham Avigdorov[1] Private Kiryat Motzkin 17 March 1948 Destroyed two enemy Bren machine gun positions
Zerubavel Horowitz[1] Second lieutenant Road to Jerusalem 27 March 1948 Covered the retreat of his comrades during an enemy attack
Yizhar Armoni[1] Private Nabi Yusha 20 April 1948 Covered the retreat of his comrades and the evacuation of wounded soldiers
Emil Brig[1] Sergeant Kibbutz Gesher area 14 May 1948 Destroyed a bridge and thus preventing the enemy from advancing
Zvi Zibel[1] Airman Ben Shemen 25 June 1948 Delivered supplies to the besieged Ben Shemen while under heavy enemy fire
Ben-Zion Leitner[1] Private first class Iraq Suwaydan 19 October 1948 Destroyed enemy bunkers
Ron Feller[1][2] Sergeant Karatiyya 19 July 1948 Destroyed an enemy tank
Yohai Ben-Nun[1] Captain Mediterranean Sea 22 October 1948 Sank the Egyptian Navy flagship
Siman-Tov Ganeh Private Iraq Suwaydan 19 November 1948 Covered the retreat of his comrades
Arieh Atzmoni Master sergeant Rafah 4 November 1948 Rescued a cannon from enemy hands
Yaakov Mizrachi[3] Private Reprisal operations Kuntila 28 October 1955 Displayed great courage in charging the enemy
Pinchas "Aloush" Noy Lieutenant Qalqilyah 10 October 1956 Charged enemy positions and killed nine enemy soldiers
Uzi Bar-Zur Corporal Sinai War Sinai 26 October-5 November 1956 Rescued wounded soldiers while under fire
Dan Ziv[4][5] Second lieutenant Sinai 1 November 1956 Rescued wounded soldiers while under fire
Yehuda Ken-Dror Private Sinai 1 November 1956 Located enemy positions while under heavy enemy fire
Shlomo Nitzani[6][7] Sergeant Sinai 26 October-5 November 1956 Rescued wounded soldiers and destroyed enemy positions while under heavy enemy fire
Zvi Ofer[8] Major Reprisal operations Nukaiv 16 March 1962 Charged enemy positions
Moshe Drimmer[9] Private Six-Day War Golan Heights 9 June 1967 Covered the retreat of his comrades
Daniel Wordon Captain El-Arish 7 June 1967 Covered the rescue of wounded soldiers
Uri Weisler Lieutenant Rafah 5 June 1967 Continued to engage the enemy while injured
Shaul Vardi[10] Sergeant Golan Heights 9 June 1967 Continued to engage the enemy while injured
Moshe Tal Lieutenant Gaza Strip 5 June 1967 Commanded a force of half-tracks
Yosef Lapper Sergeant Khan Younis 5 June 1967 Fought for eight hours alone with his tank
Eitan Neveh[11] Private Jerusalem 6 June 1967 Covered his forces in the Battle of the Ammunition Hill
Beni Inbar Staff sergeant Rafah 5 June 1967 Destroyed eight tanks
Mordechai Friedman Lieutenant Jerusalem 6 June 1967 Destroyed an enemy position
Gad Refen[12] Lieutenant West Bank 6 June 1967 Commanded the conquest of an enemy position near Jenin
David Shirazi[13] Private Golan Heights 9 June 1967 Charged an enemy position
Natanel Horovitz[10] Lieutenant Golan Heights 9 June 1967 Charged an enemy position
Ami Ayalon Lieutenant War of Attrition Green Island 19 July 1969 Heroic action during Operation Bulmus 6
Oded Amir Captain Yom Kippur War Port Said 6–24 October 1973 Commanded a force which damaged three enemy ships in Port Said harbour
Gideon Giladi Major Egypt 15 October 1973 Commanded an armour battle
Zvika Greengold Captain Golan Heights 6 October 1973 Delayed an enemy armour column
Moshe Levy[14] Sergeant Sinai 15 October 1973 Destroyed an enemy position
Yuval Neria[15] Captain Sinai 6–18 October 1973 Excellent conduct during numerous armoured battles
Shlomo Arman Second lieutenant Sinai 6–8 October 1973 Excellent conduct during numerous armoured battles
Asa Kadmoni Major Sinai 18 October 1973 Fought a large enemy force while surrounded
Avigdor Kahalani Lieutenant colonel Golan Heights 9 October 1973 Excellent conduct during numerous armoured battles

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Last Minute News Hundreds of Thousands Jam Tel Aviv to Witness Army Day Parade; Weizmann Decorates H..." Jewish Telegraphic Agency. July 18, 1949.
  2. ^ Ofer Aderet (February 6, 2016). "Israeli War Hero Ron Feller Dies, 84". Haaretz.
  3. ^ Uzi Dann (April 19, 2010). "Memorial Day The Fallen Striker". Haaretz.
  4. ^ Henkin, Yagil (October 22, 2015). The 1956 Suez War and the New World Order in the Middle East: Exodus in Reverse. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 162. ISBN 978-0-7391-8721-0. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  5. ^ Pressfield, Steven (May 6, 2014). The Lion's Gate: On the Front Lines of the Six Day War. Penguin Publishing Group. p. 227. ISBN 978-0-698-16397-3. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  6. ^ "IDF chief of staff lays flag on grave of fallen soldier". Jerusalem Post. April 10, 2013.
  7. ^ Henkin, Yagil (October 22, 2015). The 1956 Suez War and the New World Order in the Middle East: Exodus in Reverse. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 163. ISBN 978-0-7391-8721-0. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  8. ^ Amir Oren (15 January 2009). "Color Red, White House, Green Line". Haaretz.
  9. ^ Dunstan, Simon (2009). The Six Day War 1967: Jordan and Syria. Osprey Publishing. p. 83. ISBN 978-1-84603-364-3. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  10. ^ a b Dunstan, Simon; Dennis, Peter (February 20, 2013). The Six Day War 1967: Jordan and Syria. Osprey Publishing. p. 78. ISBN 978-1-4728-0197-5. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  11. ^ Dunstan, Simon; Dennis, Peter (February 20, 2013). The Six Day War 1967: Jordan and Syria. Osprey Publishing. p. 55. ISBN 978-1-4728-0197-5. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  12. ^ Amir Oren (January 26, 2015). "Desperate journey, stupid act: Why Israelis voters should see right through Netanyahu". Haaretz.
  13. ^ Rashba, Gary L. (June 2011). Holy Wars: 3,000 Years of Battles in the Holy Land. Casemate Publishers. p. 215. ISBN 978-1-61200-019-0. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  14. ^ "IDF War Hero: The Soldier Who Lost His Arm and Risked His Life to Strike the Enemy". Israel Defense Force official blog (idfblog.com). October 23, 2013.
  15. ^ Avihai Becker (November 13, 2002). "No End to This Bitter Battle". Haaretz.
  • John D. Clarke, Gallantry Medals & Awards of the World, p. 108
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