Gideon Natanzon

Son of Zvi and Irma. Born on 14 Tishrei 5703 (25.9.1942) in Kfar Malal.

He completed elementary school in Ramatayim, and afterwards moved with his parents to Ramat HaTayasim (near Yad Eliyahu), where he began studying at the "ORT" vocational school in the electric motors track. He excelled in his studies through the fervor he showed in them, and spent his free time at the "HaShomer HaTzair" branch. In the movement he was charged with guiding trainees younger than himself, and he filled this role with love. He completed his studies a year before most of the members of his garin ("Reshef") completed theirs, and therefore he joined other friends, and together they founded the commune in Ramat Gan.

In October 1961 he was drafted into the IDF, and after basic training the garin went out to Nirim and Gideon was sent to instruction. He went out to advanced training together with the instructors from the "Reshef" garin and from the Paratrooper Nahal, to Beit Nir, his home. From time to time after his discharge he went out to reserve duty.

Gideon worked on the farm in all branches of electrical work. He dealt with radio installations and reached the point of designing electrical systems for the new houses. Beit Nir became his own home when he brought his wife to the farm. In those days he was making preparations to go to the Technion in Haifa and study electrical engineering there, a profession he loved, but then the war broke out and turned all his plans upside down.

With his whole brigade Gideon went up to Jerusalem, and on the second day of the fighting of the Six-Day War, 27 Iyar 5727 (6.6.1967), he fell in the battle fought at the mortar position in Wadi Joz. He met his death from the hit of a Jordanian sniper as he tried to rescue wounded comrades, having set out at the head of his squad.

He left a wife. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.

For the mission that was imposed on him, which Gideon carried out with devotion, courage, a spirit of volunteering and tenacity of purpose until his last moments, he received a commendation from the brigade commander.

His story was given in booklet 53 of "Mehem," published by the Kibbutz HaArtzi in memory of its members who fell in the campaign, and also in the book "Me'Arayot Gavru" of the Paratroopers Command. In the inquiry conducted in 2017 it was emphasized that the Brigade Commander's Commendation awarded to Corporal Gideon (Gidi) Netanzon, of blessed memory, was converted to the Medal of Distinction.