Reuven Alferon

Son of Haim and Yaffa. He was born on the 25th of Tishrei 5705 (12.10.1944) in Cairo, Egypt, and immigrated to Israel with his family in 1949.

He studied at the elementary school in Givat Shmuel and at a vocational high school. He was a sports enthusiast, especially of soccer and volleyball. After finishing his studies he began working as a plumber.

Reuven was drafted into the IDF at the beginning of February 1963 and served in the Engineering Corps and the Armored Corps, and he completed his regular service unharmed. At the beginning of October 1969 he was called up for active reserve duty. On the 24th of Marheshvan 5730 (5.11.1969), he fell from Egyptian fire.

Two days earlier his commander had asked for a volunteer for dangerous and difficult work fortifying the outpost, and Reuven volunteered. The task involved making noise, which drew terrible fire from the Egyptian side. After the first day of work Reuven refused to take a free "night of rest," as was customary, and spend it at a neighboring outpost, because, he said, he was already accustomed to working on top of the embankment, whereas a new man would waste precious hours until he learned. He continued working throughout the next day, and when darkness fell the night again found him on top of the embankment, exposed to the cruel fire. At the end of that night Reuven volunteered to complete the work, and on the third night too he volunteered to work exposed to the Egyptian fire. Reuven worked at a rapid pace, and when his comrades were afraid to bring him materials for the work, he encouraged them and urged them on. During one of the lulls in the shooting, when it seemed to him that the fire had died down, Reuven stood up, and was then hit by a burst of fire in the stomach and killed.

He left a wife and a daughter. He was laid to eternal rest in the military cemetery at Kiryat Shaul.

After his death Reuven was commended by the Commander of Southern Command for "displaying courage and a spirit of volunteering under enemy fire." The Minister of Defense wrote in a letter of condolence to the widow: "Reuven was a brave soldier, an exemplary comrade, and beloved by all who knew him." In an inquiry conducted in 2017 it was emphasized that the General's Citation had been converted to the Medal of Distinguished Service.