Amnon Abukai

Son of Michael and Arela. Born on 30 Cheshvan 5696 (14.11.1936) in Tel Aviv. He was related to Rabbi Yonatan Eybeschutz on his mother's side.

He completed his studies at the Shalva high school. At the age of nine he joined the HaShomer HaTzair movement and afterwards became a counselor in it, but when the Prague trials began he left his movement. He excelled in most branches of sport. Through his many hikes and tours in the country, which he loved intensely, he came to know every road and path in it, and once he even said in a conversation with his father: “Let us tour the country a little... You will get to know the land and its delights, and then you will understand why we fight and are killed.” He was drawn to the game of chess. He also loved reading books very much.

Because of his leaving his party he found no rest and tried to draw close to Ahdut HaAvoda; but since he could not reach a final decision, he resolved in his heart to enlist in the IDF before his time (August 1954); he volunteered for the Paratroops. Here he devoted himself to training, first as a recruit and afterwards in the squad commanders course. In the hard training he was forged as a fighter and as a man. He was a good and devoted friend to his comrades-in-arms, and was an example to them by his daring conduct in operations.

In the battle of Kuntilla, on 12 Cheshvan 5716 (28.10.1955), he was severely wounded and died of his wounds. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery at Kiryat Shaul. His courage in this battle and the discipline he displayed at the time of action were praised by the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Moshe Dayan.

His parents and friends published a booklet in his memory bearing his name. At the thirtieth day after his fall, the people of his father's hometown established a fund for acts of loving-kindness (gemilut hasadim) and named it the “Amnon Fund” after him. His memory is recorded in the book “The Wars of the Paratroopers” by Uri Milstein. In an investigation in 2017 it was updated that the Chief of Staff's Commendation had been converted to the Medal of Courage.